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April 27, 2006
The Volvo C70 Convertible Is in Dealerships And On the Road
Volvo's brand new hardtop convertible, the C70, is now in dealerships, sort of. We say that because every Volvo point is selling every C70 they get delivered, and it shouldn't be long before Volvo sells out their annual allotment of 8,000 units for the North American market.
We've already seen a couple on the road here in Northern Virginia, but since it's not easy [or safe!] to be taking pictures of cars when the traffic light is changing, we paid a visit to one of Don Beyer's Volvo stores to get a closeup look at the new C70. What can I say, driving the Mustang was contagious. And even the C70 we test drove was already sold!
The Volvo C70's convertible hardtop is a three-piece affair [four if you count the trunk] and the operation is powered by an electric motor controlled by an in-cabin switch. Volvo has the distinction of bringing the most affordable hardtop converible to market in the luxury segment, with the car starting at $38,710. The silver model pictured on the lot was priced at $45,770 after adding metallic paint [$475], bi-xenon headlights with washers [$700], automatic transmission with geartronic [$1,250], a premium seating package [$1,395], audio package [$1,500] and 18-inch alloy wheels[$995].
To continue with the obvious, the hardtop roof's operation is smooth and more than a little bit of fun to sit there and watch it either envelope or unveil you to the sky. Besides the obvious pleasure of driving with the roof down, when it's up it is just like driving a hardtop sedan. The Volvo turbocharged 5-cylinder engine produces a quick 218 horsepower and cornering was tight.
And it wouldn't be a Volvo without an impressive safety innovation. The C70 features an inflatable curtain, or IC, that has an extra stiff construction with double rows of slats that are slightly offset from each other. According to Volvo, "this allows them to remain upright and offer effective head protection even with the window open. The curtain also deflates slowly to provide protection should the car roll over. This is a unique solution in the automotive world."
The Volvo C70 has above the norm seating for a convertible that will accommodate four adults. The two rear seats can be accessed with a push of a button on the front seat's backrest, which moves the front seats quickly forward.
We also love the conter console that is a thin, aluminum-faced ribbon that is separated from the rest of the front dash furniture. This design feature is an elegant solution to the usual bulkhead that faces you in the front section of a car and creates a sense of airiness in the cabin.
As we stated previously, Volvo will only send about 8,000 units to the States, so if you're interested in buying a C70, you better act fast or the only view you'll get of it is the one pictured above.
To get a free price quote on the C70 or any Volvo product, click here.
Posted by Frank at April 27, 2006 9:17 AM | Filed under 2006 Vehicles
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