Volvo is showcasing its Lounge Console interior concept on a range-topping XC90 Excellence at the Shanghai Auto Show.

The concept takes executive in-car luxury to a new level thanks to what Volvo calls “the ultimate executive accessory” – the Lounge Console which replaces the front passenger seat, offering a series of functions and amenities.

The compact and versatile solution is said to expand storage and comfort. “Removing the passenger seat enabled us to create an open space that dramatically changes the dynamics of the interior and led to a firework of ideas and new possibilities,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Car Group.

The Lounge Console is the result of ethnographic research which was undertaken in order to “establish the unexpressed and unmet needs of people with a high-profile lifestyle,” according to Volvo. The Lounge Console is a large work table which opens to reveal an illuminated vanity mirror, including a storage tray for jewelry and personal accessories or make-up.

But that’s not all. The table rotates 90 degrees and simultaneously powers forward to display a large 17-inch media screen. Below the cushioned leg rest there’s an additional area for shoes, with Volvo also adding a lockable storage box for added security. Another advantage of removing the front passenger seat is that it allows for full forward vision for the rear-seat passenger.

For the moment Volvo didn’t say whether the Lounge Console would be offered as an optional extra for the XC90 Excellence, but if the Chinese public reacts well to it, we don’t see any reason for Volvo not to bring it to production. Scroll down to learn more about the Lounge Console from the video posted below.

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