Volvo hopes to double sales of the current C70 with the new model pictured here. In an unexpected move, the Swedish company has revealed some initial details about its new coupe-cabriolet, well ahead of its world debut at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The new C70 is thought to be the first four-seat folding hard top car to be launched into the premium market, though we expect VW to reveal a Golf-based car this year too. The new car further develops Volvo's established design language, with a strong resemblance to the Volvo S40 at the front and strong 'shoulders'. At the rear, the lights feature a new double-circle shape, which is bound to make it into the rest of the range eventually. The side profile remains elegant with the roof up or down, and no doubt buyers will be thankful for the extra security of the hard top.

As you'd expect from a company with its reputation built on occupant safety, the new C70 will be crammed with safety equipment, the newest of which is an Inflatable Curtain located in both doors. In the even of an accident, these extra stiff devices inflate upwards out of the door to protect the passengers' heads, whether the roof is up or down.

Dimensions for the C70 are not yet available, but it is said to be of similar size to the outgoing car, seating four adults in comfort. Engine options will include a 180bhp, five-cylinder diesel, a 2.4-litre petrol five-cylinder producing 170bhp and the range-topping T5, with another five-cylinder unit pumping out 220bhp and 236lb.ft of torque.

We will get our first chance to sit into the C70 at the Frankfurt Show. At the same time customers can start placing orders at Volvo dealers in the UK, though deliveries do not start until early in 2006. Watch out for our road test of the car in the Volvo section of the main Road Tests page then.

Shane O' Donoghue - 15 Jul 2005