The car designed by women, for women

IT HAS gull-wing doors which flip up to allow easy access, a sleek and revolutionary floating dashboard and a modern, minimalist interior.

This is the Volvo YCC (Your Concept Car) - designed and engineered entirely by women.

The result of a four-year project is currently on a world promotional tour to see if its startling new look catches on.

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Motoring journalists who have seen the saloon have raved about its sleek lines and innovative design features.

But there have been voices of dissent from female motoring experts, who say Volvo is marketing its new baby with too much emphasis on its looks - and is patronising to women.

Volvo has provided the YCC with a range of interiors, including optional shag-pile carpets and removable seat covers, which it suggests can be changed to match your outfit.

It also has grooves in the headrests to accommodate ponytails, transparent storage bins for easy access to important items and adjustable pedals to make it easier to drive in heels.

But by choosing the all-female car to unveil its Autopark system, which electronically gauges the size of a parking space, its manufacturers have been accused of harking back to outdated stereotypes of female drivers.

With 43 per cent of UK driving licences now held by women, in comparison with 31 per cent in 1976, women are a key part of the motoring market and finding a more female-friendly formula could be the key to huge profits.

But Abbey Jones, the consumer editor of What Car? magazine, thought Volvo was out of step with modern women drivers, who they say are far more cost-conscious and less romantic about cars than men.

She said: "Women are more practical than men when it comes to buying cars. Men buy cars more with the heart. If anything, women want less fuss and good value for money."

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Ms Jones said she loved the smooth lines and stylish interior of the YCC when she saw it on display at a motor show earlier this year, but was put off by the suggestion women might be tempted to buy a car because they could swap seat covers to co-ordinate with what they were wearing.

"I thought the car looked great, but I think they have gone too far. We are not a stupid bunch that choose a car because of the upholstery," she said.

The motoring journalist said she liked the fact that drivers would be able to top-up the windscreen wash through a hole in the side of the car rather than under the bonnet - but thought the gull-wing doors would prove impractical for parking in multi-storey car parks with limited space.

As for the Autopark system, she said she thought it was an insult to female drivers to suggest they were less capable of parking than men. "That is so patronising. I’m sure women can park without that," she said.

Elaine Fee, the AA’s spokeswoman in Scotland, also agreed she could manage without an in-car navigation system to park. "I can park on a sixpence," she said.

While applauding the decision to involve women more in the planning process, she also felt Volvo had underestimated how practical women are when it comes to cars. She also felt they were putting too much emphasis on the need for lots of handy places for shopping, handbags, make-up and gym bags.

"One of the main concerns of women when buying a car is safety," she said.

"When I bought my car, safety was a major concern. I had a checklist of things I was looking for and having a place to put my handbag wasn’t high on the list. That is very stereotypical.

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"People want different things from cars, but often men and women have the same priorities."

The idea of putting together an all-female design team arose in 2001 when an American marketing expert, Marti Barletta, said women’s eye for detail held the key to better design.

"If you meet the expectations of women, you exceed the expectations of men," she said.

Volvo stresses the all-female designed car is not only aimed at women. They hope the new saloon will interest the younger end of the car-buying market, and believe the aerodynamic design will appeal to men.

A spokeswoman for Volvo said the YCC was on the world tour partly to assess opinion and reaction to the design: "It’s more of a collection of ideas rather than something that will go into production and there are obviously parts of the car that will have a more favourable reaction than others.

Other selling points include a superior air-conditioning system which filters out pollen and keeps the level of in-car pollution to a minimum, plus the Intelligent Driver Information System, which assesses traffic conditions.

Drivers will have a choice of dashboard finishes, from the traditional dark grey to aluminium, wood effect and a transparent finish.

"The dashboard’s centre panel is the ultimate style icon of the car and a revolution in itself," said its inventor, Guy Burgoyne.

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"It required considerable ingenuity and hard work to find a technical solution for this super-slim format."

While they might have over-estimated the importance of frills and fittings to today’s practical-minded female motorist, Volvo is convinced the overall style and design of their new saloon will make it a winner.

Volvo’s design director, Henrik Otto, said of the new look: "The gently rounded nose, sweeping lines and abrupt tail generate a vibrant sensation of speed.

"From the side, the new Volvo gives the impression of a comet on the move."

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