Volvo C70 Convertible Review

Volvo C70 Convertible

Have you seen the new Volvo C70 convertible around town? With its sleek Swedish design, long gone are the days of a boxy but safe looking Volvo.

Many will have the opinion that a convertible is not going to hold up to Volvos hand on heart commitment to safety, but the Volvo C70 does just that. The C70 has all the safety features we have come to expect from Volvo, with 3 airbags each for the driver and front passenger, including front, side and curtain airbags to protect the head in side collisions.

There is also an Anti Lock Braking System, Traction Control, Emergency Brake Assist and Whip Lash System. Another fabulous feature for the C70 Volvo Convertible is the BLIS System, where lights light up on your side mirrors whenever a car is in your blind spot. And as it is a convertible you have to drive with the roof down, for the wind in the hair and soft sun on your skin experience. For this there is a roll bar for added safety, which is triggered if you have an accident.

The Volvo C70 also features all the creature comforts, will full electrics, heated front seats, auto fold side mirrors (when parked) and gorgeous Leather trim available in Vanilla, Black or Rich Chocolate. I tried the Vanilla, it went beautifully with the sleek wood paneling of the display which houses the controls for the audio system and climate control.

For those with kids (or not) there are plenty of storage spots including 4 drink holders, door pockets, side bins in the rear and a sneaky little spot behind the consol, far away from sticky fingers.

The roof is an amazing feat of motor engineering. It is a hard top that breaks into 3 pieces through a system of an electric motor and hydraulics and is nicely tucked away in the boot within 30 seconds. The kids, dog or passengers cannot retract the roof accidentally as you have to have your foot on the break for activate it.

The car will not be the first off at the lights, however if you like a smooth build up of speed with the feel of a luxury sports car then the Volvo C70 is right on the money. If you want turbo toe curling speed then the Volvo T5 has a lot more get up and go.

Overall the C70 is a very stylish looking car, which performs well and offers you plenty of luxury from $69,950*.

Test drive one today and experience precision engineering matched with the highest quality style & comfort.

Volvo C70

The Volvo C70 is the second-generation convertible from Volvo Cars. It was launched at the Frankfurt motor show in September 2005. The aim was to create two cars in one - without compromising on either. A three-piece retractable hardtop transforms the Volvo C70 from coupe to convertible at the touch of a button.

Design

The Volvo C70 is short and low but relatively wide. Its proportions and design were chosen to give the car a powerful profile. In order to ensure harmonious lines both with and without the roof, Volvo's designers decided to first draw the Volvo C70 as a coupe. Only after they were satisfied with the result did they make the necessary adjustments to create a convertible out of the finished design.

The car's haunches flow to the rear, giving a dynamic stance and reinforcing the sensation of a protective collar around the rear seat passengers. The upward sweep is balanced visually by the wave-shaped sill line.

The tail section has an abrupt cut-off. The tail lamps echo the design language of Volvo's sedan models, but with a slimmer profile to emphasise the C heritage.As of model year 2009, the space between the letters in the rear Volvo emblem has been increased in order to enhance visibility of the brand. The individual letters will also be larger.

A new rear spoiler is a discreet colour-coordinated accessory. It enhances the car's sporty appearance and helps improve the car's handling characteristics - especially at high speeds. The spoiler is made of lightweight plastic.

An Autofold function has been introduced for the power retractable mirror option. With the Autofold function, the mirrors are set to automatically fold in when the car is locked. When the car is unlocked, the mirrors will fold out again.

The interior is inspired by Scandinavian product design with the emphasis on uncluttered surfaces, honest materials and good function. The C70 also has features such as Volvo's ultra-slim, visually free-floating centre console, a specially developed upholstery material (Vulcaflex) and interior space that is remarkably generous for this type of car.

The Volvo C70 is designed for four adults. The rear has two pronounced, deeply contoured seats.

The retractable hardtop is raised and lowered in about thirty seconds with the help of an electric motor and hydraulics. When lowered, it is fully concealed in the luggage compartment. Thanks to a special load assistance function, the remaining space can nonetheless be utilised very effectively for luggage.

The tunnel console and the armrest have been given a design matching the dashboard's unique, floating centre console and with the same type of decor inserts. The aim has been to provide the highest possible feeling of quality while still increasing the flexibility and storage possibilities.

BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) is available in the Volvo C70, making it an optional extra in all Volvo models. As a result, the C70 model gets the same rear view mirrors as the Volvo S40 and V50.

In order to minimise the risk of children unintentionally opening the windows whilst driving, or opening the roof in the C70 model, these controls have been given a design with protective "barriers" situated between the buttons.

Safety

Volvo Cars adopts a holistic view of safety that encompasses both Preventive and Protective safety. Preventive safety is closely linked to the car's driving properties. The Volvo C70 is twice as torsionally rigid as the previous C70 model, thanks to an advanced and reinforced body structure. Combined with a sturdy chassis, torsional rigidity helps give the car consistent, predictable behaviour on the road.

Volvo Cars has developed various information systems designed to help the driver while on the move. One such system is IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System), which for instance delays incoming phone calls in complex traffic situations that require the driver's undivided attention.

Protective safety in the Volvo C70 is structured around a network consisting of exterior and interior safety systems that interact with one another to reduce the risk of occupant injury in a collision. The exterior systems have the task of distributing and absorbing incoming collision forces so that the passenger compartment remains as intact and undamaged as possible. The body is therefore built in the form of a metal cage made of different grades of steel, where all the components interact with one another to ensure controlled deformation.

Since the Volvo C70 does not have a fixed roof, the body has been reinforced in a variety of ways to allow the rest of the car's structure to absorb a greater proportion of the impact energy. When a car rolls over, its windscreen frame is subjected to immense force.

In the Volvo C70, the windscreen pillars are made using hydroforming technology, whereby it is possible to make each pillar in one single piece but with varying thickness and high strength along its entire length. Even the ROPS bars - the metal hoops that come up behind the rear passengers in the event of a roll-over scenario - are particularly sturdily dimensioned and are activated exceptionally quickly.

The interior safety systems aim to keep the passengers securely in place and also to reduce the risk of serious injury. In order to provide the most effective protection possible, Volvo Cars has developed a number of in-house systems, such as WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) and IC (Inflatable Curtain). All are fitted as standard in the Volvo C70.

The inflatable curtain has been tailored for the convertible and is installed in the door. It deploys upwards. In order to further boost protection in the event of a roll-over scenario, the curtain deflates slowly. Every seat is equipped with a three-point seat belt, belt pre-tensioner and head restraint. The highest possible safety requires that all the car's occupants always use their seat belts.

The Volvo C70 can be equipped with the HomeLink system. The system makes it possible to operate up to three remote controlled home devices (e.g., garage door, home alarm system, etc.) via a module integrated into the sun visor. HomeLink contributes to easy and safe access to your home.

Driveline and handling

The engines in the Volvo C70 are five-cylinder, transversely installed in-line units. A five-cylinder engine gives low vibration and smooth operation. Together with large displacement, the five-cylinder configuration provides high torque across a broad rev band, and thus also swift acceleration and excellent driveability within a wide speed range.

The Volvo C70 T5 is the top model and it features a turbocharged engine mated to either a five-speed automatic transmission or six-speed manual gearbox.The chassis, with spring struts at the front and Multilink axle at the rear, is set up for stable, reassuring driving manners and alert steering response. The Multilink rear axle is an independent rear suspension system featuring a number of links and it is designed to offer a good combination of controlled wheel movements and high ride comfort. Some of these links have the task of providing a certain degree of anti-skid steering effect. A long wheelbase and wide track, together with a very torsionally rigid body, contribute to the predictable, controlled driving manners. What is more, chassis height has been substantially lowered front and rear to further benefit directional stability.

Volvo's advanced DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) stability-enhancing system is fitted as standard. DSTC cuts in and helps stabilise the car if it registers any tendency to skid.

Audio and information

The Volvo C70 can be equipped with Bluetooth® - a technology that enables wireless communication. By connecting Volvo's Bluetooth device to the car's audio system and a Bluetooth compatible cellular telephone, easy and practical hands-free phoning is made possible.

The environment

The Volvo C70 is designed and equipped to impact as little as possible on the global environment and to offer a clean and healthy interior climate. Petrol engines with low internal friction, efficient combustion and advanced exhaust filtration technology result in low emissions.

Volvo's IAQS (Interior Air Quality System) effectively reduces the amount of particles, pollen, gases and certain unpleasant odours in the air entering the cabin. In addition, all textiles and leather are certified under ÃKO-TEX 100. This is an international standard, which ensures that fabrics and hides have been thoroughly tested to check for certain allergy-inducing substances and emissions.

Descriptions and facts in this press material relate to Volvo Cars' international car range. Described features might be optional. Vehicle specifications may vary from one country to another and may be altered without prior notification.