Making its world premiere today at the Shanghai Auto Show is the new Volvo Concept Universe, a study for a luxury sedan model that also provides a peek at the Swedish automaker’s future design language.

While Volvo did not release any technical details on the Concept Universe, the fact that it measures less than 5 meters in length points at a design study for a replacement for the firm’s S80 sedan and not a larger, Mercedes-Benz S-Class rival that the Swedish company’s Chinese owner Geely has been recently talking about.

Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Cars, said that the firm’s new concept model “offers the world a sneak preview of what people can expect from our next top-of-the-line sedan.”

Volvo said it plans to bring the new concept sedan to Europe as well as the United States in order to “to bring it into the global context” that the company is aiming for with all of its models.

Commenting on the study, the Swedish company’s vice-president of design, Peter Horbury said: “The Concept Universe is exceptionally refined, yet with all the simplistic assets that make Volvo champions of the uncomplicated. There is a growing appreciation for this ingenious blend of design and technology among modern luxury car buyers. This trend paves the way for our success. We are convinced that our special brand of luxury has a great future.”

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