autoevolution
 

What if the Volvo 240 Was Designed as an SUV in 1988?

Volvo is currently known mostly for its safe, efficient luxury SUVs. But models like the XC90 don't have as much heritage behind them as a Range Rover. So it's fun to imagine a world where the Swedish company began developing this type of vehicle at the end of the 1980s.
What If the Volvo 240 Was Designed as an SUV in 1988? 6 photos
Photo: TheSketchMonkey/YouTube screenshot
What If the Volvo 240 Was Designed as an SUV in 1988?What If the Volvo 240 Was Designed as an SUV in 1988?What If the Volvo 240 Was Designed as an SUV in 1988?What If the Volvo 240 Was Designed as an SUV in 1988?What If the Volvo 240 Was Designed as an SUV in 1988?
The first Volvo SUV arrived in 2002, the XC90. But before that, they also had the crossover wagon called the V70 XC, which later developed into the XC70. For the following example, though, we're going much further back in time, to 1988.

The Volvo 240 has a special place in the heart of YouTube artist TheSketchMonkey, and he's done multiple rendering videos on this car. But since he's been creating all sorts of retro SUVs lately, the boxy 240 gets another makeover. The idea here is not to add it to the current roster but to imagine a 240 SUV the way it would have come out over 30 years ago.

The boxy lines of a 240 sedan are used to create a high-rider. The process isn't unusually difficult. The styling of the car is very pure, with no elements added just for the sake of looking good. The result is the opposite of most modern SUV designs, which are flamboyant, stuffed with fake vents and oversized grilles.

Now, there are a few older off-roaders that resemble this rendering, such as the original Range Rover. And that just tells us that if Volvo had begun developing SUVs in 1988, it would be an even bigger company today. That's because the 240 was also one of the safest cars back in its day, making it perfect for the school run. In fact, it was so safe that Volvo says it often got letters from owners thanking them for saving their lives in crashes. Imagining a rally-racing version of this SUV is also kind of fun.

If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories