Volvo revives legendary P1800

Jensen may have built them.....but not well!

Most of the P1800S that are still around are Swedish built because the original cars which Jensen built for them were rusting away as soon as they were built. The S stands for Sweden, by the way, so that people don't make an expensive mistake.
Presumably Volvo's new owners Geely will make sure that whichever part of the design does appear on future cars, their reputation remains intact.

By n50pap on 30 December, 2011, 1:10pm

I like the idea of a new P1800, especially the sportwagon ES, but I don't care for this concept. I'd say it needs to go back to the drawing board, as we used to say!

By artandcolour on 30 December, 2011, 10:30pm

Stop playing about & give us what we are asking for.

Volvo for goodness sake stop living in the past, even then the P1800 wasn't a great car, it just looked a bit different. If you don't cater for your main business base you may be following SAAB. Build a 5 door hatchback that your 50-70+ age group wants to down size to. Be courageous and try to compete with the front runners i.e.Ford Focus etc. Now there is a great car.

By WilliamEd on 31 December, 2011, 12:35am

Will Simon Templer like it?

We remember Roger Moore drove the original Volvo P1800 his long era as the Saint. It was a great trademark. Beaten Jaguar for the contract. Val Kilmer revived the Volvo trademark in his Saint movie swapping his Batmobile after left role to George Cloonery. For The Saint make with electrical & half petrol for him in his adventures.

By deviras on 31 December, 2011, 2:21am

What's the point?

I'm getting fed up of all these concept cars - they tease with good looks and desirability but never see the light of day - or appear in production form many years later looking nothing like the original concept (for some very good reasons like crash protection and aerodynamic stability).

So what's the point of them? For the designers to get paid good money to have some fun? Can't new technology be tested on current or forthcoming production models?

If I go to a motorshow I want to look at something I can buy - not some overpaid designer's flight of fancy.

By gavsmit on 31 December, 2011, 9:08am

Great sketch but just a fantasy

Can't help thinking Volvo has lost its way in the last 20 years or so, they have a desperate need to shake off their safe and durable image to become 'sexy'.

If Volvo stuck to doing what they used to do best perhaps Skoda wouldn't be stealing Volvo's core customers and be laughing all the way to the bank.

By JFalck on 31 December, 2011, 10:34am

Volvo revives the P1800?

According to the article it is purely a design exercise and Volvo are far from 'reviving' the car. Come on AE don't hype up yet another bit of non-news.

By dastardly01 on 31 December, 2011, 11:12am

Lost opportunity

The current styling of Volvo is far to mainstream, lacks individuality and character. The s60 and v60 are ugly, 13 in a 12 design, the upcoming v40 will be a v60 look alike, design crap.

Volvo should have stick to old values, big estates, quality and safety, outspoken design. The Concept You however is promising, but please do not come up with an A7 derivate, but a big sedan and estate, like the old days. Only then Volvo will have a change to survive, not with the current models (they will only generate temporarely success).

The forthcoming v40 will be already outdated both technically and from a design point of view when introduced in March 2012, the new Audi A3, Mercs new A class will outshine the V40 by far, not to mention the new VW Golf VII (for the end of the year)

Volvo should have made cars like Skoda, they have focused on Volvo customers, with enormous succes!

By Netherlands on 31 December, 2011, 11:12am

Forget the idea.

In the car biz feedback no one really wants this car, it's only a design drawing, it's a none starter, dead in the water, you get the idea, Volvo don't do it, if you do you'll be sorry in the morning.

By QuattroABT on 31 December, 2011, 1:05pm

Think about what you are doing, Volvo

WilliamEd

Spot on. Volvo needs to quit the lame "Scandinavian cool" act and go back to making honest, durable cars which offer value for money. The go-faster image they have tried to create for themselves over the last 15 years has not been a success. If they are expecting us to pay over £18K for a basic V30 (S40/V50 replacement, due autumn 2012), existing customers like myself will go for a Focus. Volvos are basically sound cars, but their product planning is all wrong.

By CrystalBall on 31 December, 2011, 10:21pm