Car Design News brings you standout luxury interiors from Volvo, Rolls-Royce and Ferrari
Volvo EX90
Revealed in November, Volvo’s flagship electric SUV is a combination of what design boss Robin Page describes as a combination of the latest technology and classic Scandinavian design. The interior is decked out in sustainable materials that are accented by natural wood, integrated lighting and clean metal surfaces. The Nordico trim, for example, is made from a combination of recycled plastic and wood that is sourced from responsibly managed forests. As is typical of Scandi design, the overall look is minimal, but it is up close that the quality shines through, with gentle perforations on the headrests that hide built-in speakers; cream piping on the seat covers and a glass rotary dial on the centre console. Cecila Stark, senior design manager for colour, material and vision, notes that Volvo has “always been more inspired by interior architecture and fashion than many other brands, and we show that.” Minimalist as the interior is, there is no shortage of tech. As ever, there is a large central display (mounted vertically rather than horizontally) that dominates the instrument panel, behind which sits another elegant Bowers & Wilkins speaker. The traditional instrument cluster housing has gone and is replaced by a slim digital display directly behind the steering wheel. It is part of a wider shift toward a dual-display HMI, with analogue displays falling out of favour.
Rolls-Royce Spectre
As the brand’s first stab at an electric vehicle, the Spectre is a big deal for Rolls-Royce. But powertrain aside, it is very much business as usual on the interior with a mix of plush materials and exquisite finishes – right down to the iconic Starlight headlining that debuted on the Phantom back in 2007 which has even been extended into the door cards. Available in a gold, pink and white colourway, the interior is bright and the CMF team have clearly not held back. Splashes of mustard and fuchsia on the seats and arm rest are combined with pink stitching and a brightly coloured strip the runs across the width of the dashboard. The seats themselves have been designed such that passengers sit ‘in’ them rather than ‘on’ them, and the rear is said to feel more like a lounge. Elsewhere, the aim was to use technology discretely, with an emphasis on the ‘jewellery’ of physical buttons, switches and dials. Design director Anders Warming says it was about “celebrating” these features and the “haptic interaction” that takes place when changing the volume or adjusting the air vents. That being said, a horizontal display does sweep across two-thirds of the instrument panel, broken up only by an analogue clock and air vents. Regardless, this could not be anything other than a Rolls-Royce.
Ferrari Purosangue
Glossing over the argument as to whether this is an SUV or not, the design team admits that the challenge with the Purosangue was creating the biggest interior in Ferrari’s history. It is a proper four-seater with more headroom than usual, and with its larger bodyshape it strays closer to pure luxury territory than ever. Design director Flavio Manzoni is careful not to phrase it this way, opting instead for words such as “sophisticated” and describing the interior as “elegant, sporty and modern.” Most striking is the double-dash cockpit, which leans on the design of the Roma supercar. The aim was to create a driver-oriented feel for the passenger, too, rather than having them feel separate to the main driving experience. Ambient lighting accents the flowing lines of the interior and the materials – leather, brushed metal, carbon fibre and piano black accents – combine effortlessly. This is also the first car with the option of a partially recycled Alcantara, which CDN can report feels identical to the original. There are some interesting design elements, too, such as the retractable dial that disappears into the instrument panel to sit flush with the rest of the surface when not in use. The Purosangue might be a need breed of Ferrari, but there is an air of familiarity about the interior regardless.