Volvo Concept Car Designed by women for women

Smart storage goes far beyond where to put your handbag.

It is a question of what to do with your mobile phone, your keys, your notebook computer, your briefcase, your sports bag for the gym and so many other things we carry in our cars.

The best place for keeping all the things you want on hand in the car is between the front seats. But that is where you normally find the gear lever and handbrake.

"So we moved them. In the YCC, there are gear levers by the steering wheel and the parking brake is electronic and integrated. This freed up space for storage in the centre console," says Cindy Charwick, who designed the YCC interior.

In the centre console, you find a shallow compartment for keys, mobile phones, coins and other small items. This compartment slides back to reveal a deeper one, big enough for a handbag. Another compartment takes a notebook computer and there is a cool box within reach of the driver's seat too. A wastepaper basket completes the theme of sheer convenience.

"Most of our target group said they carry a bag in the rear seat far more often than passengers. So we decided to design that area primarily for storage but instantly convertible to seats for two passengers whenever needed," says Palmertz. That is why the rear seats resemble cinema seats - normally folded up out of the way until someone needs them. This frees up large amounts of luggage space in the rear seat, easily accessed through the wide door. Passengers simply lower a seat each as they get in.

The YCC is a one-off concept car, a Volvo showcase for sharing bright ideas and solutions with the world. The most popular solutions will be those that stand the best chance of appearing in a future production model.

"We chose a gull-wing door with a modest wingspan to help us showcase the YCC's interior solutions," says Elna Holmberg, Technical Project Manager. "And it brought other advantages. It makes it easy to lift a bag in behind the driver's seat, and it increases your visibility over your shoulder to the side because the B-pillar has been moved towards the rear. And when the door opens upwards, the drop-down door sill rotates simultaneously, so getting in and out is so much easier."

...continued