January 11, 2002

Volvo Safety Concept Car named 2002 Concept Car of the Year

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Detroit, Michigan - Automotive News magazine has awarded Volvo Car Corporation the 2002 Concept Car of the Year for its Safety Concept Car (SCC). The SCC was selected from among dozens of leading concept styles and vehicles unveiled during the past year at auto shows around the world.

The award was presented at the AutoWeek Design Forum held at the Cobo Conference/Exhibition Center, in concert with the North American International Auto Show currently underway in Detroit.

The main theme of the Volvo Safety Concept Car (SCC) is "superior vision." The car also employs a variety of technologies that enhance personal security, improve passive safety systems, and provide evidence that Volvo Cars is at the very leading edge in the development of technology for safer driving.

A distinguished panel of judges participated in the selection: Akira Fujimoto of Car Styling Magazine; Professor Ken Greenley of the Royal College of Art; Gordon Murray of McLaren Cars Ltd.; Chuck Jordan, retired GM design chief; and, Chris Wright, correspondent of Automotive News Europe.

"At Volvo, safety is a core value. It is therefore gratifying to receive this prestigious recognition, because the SCC points the way to a new dimension in research and development into car safety," says Hans-Olov Olsson, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation. "The concept not only provides a glimpse of where we're headed, but also shows that safety can be packaged in an exciting design," he said. The vehicle's night vision technology was the basis for the system appearing in the company's new XC90, which will soon go into production.

"All the vehicles featured are the wave of the future," said Peter Brown, Automotive News executive editor and associate publisher. "The brilliant designers and engineers who see new possibilities for the future are just awe-inspiring," he said.

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