Volvo tries modern take on old P1800

• Homage to P1800%2C not retro machine%2C Volvo says
• Styling forecasts look of next Volvo models
• Concept is hybrid with 400 hp

Volvo is testing the idea of a modern take on the brand's iconic P1800 coupe of the 1960s.

The Volvo Concept Coupe is modern and angular, but has the low-slung look that could, indeed, resonate with folks old enough to recall the P1800, and those who've come late to its appeal but are infatuated nonetheless.

Volvo says the car is the first of a series of three concept cars that are harbingers of the next Volvos.

It is the first design by Volvo's new Senior Vice President of Design, Thomas Ingenlath. He says, "The Volvo Concept Coupe is no futuristic dream car. It is designed to demonstrate the capability of our new architecture: the confident stance, the proportions and the most prominent design signatures. Even though the all-new XC90 is an entirely different type of car, you will recognize the connection instantly when it is revealed next year."

It is based on what the car company calls Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), which the automaker says was "developed in-house for Volvo Cars only," and -- taking a slap at former owner Ford Motor -- "liberates Volvo's designers and engineers from the limitations of previous cross-brand platforms."

Signature touches include a handcrafted crystal shift lever and a big touchscreen in the center of the dashboard, much like Telsa uses.