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Expanded Volvo C70 range - a threat to Jaguar? |
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A new 2.4-litre, 170bhp, five-cylinder engine has joined the present turbocharged C70 models and will help to extend the C70 Coupe�s appeal still further. Performance will continue to match the Coupe�s sporting style though, with a 0-62mph time of less than 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 133mph. Not really "entry-level" by most standards! The engine is a revised version of that available in the S70 and V70 models but boasts better driveability and flexibility thanks to 170lb.ft on tap lower down the rev range. The latest unit features a number of revisions that result in reduced engine noise, lower emissions and fuel economy that has been improved by 8%. So now you really can be a saint...
All C70 Coupes are now fitted with Volvo�s unique Side Impact Protection System (SIPS), SIPS bags and the new Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) which helps to reduce whiplash injuries in a rear impact and is now standard across the Volvo range. |
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Volvo�s last convertible was the P1900 Sport built in 1956, of which only 67 examples were produced. One wonders why Volvo have waited so long to launch their next! Presumably, a convertible didn't suit the safe-as-houses image. Now, is the convertible safer, or is the decision money lead? Either way, Volvo are guaranteed success of the new C70 convertible. It is stylish and quick and different enough to turn heads without being obtrusive. Just the thing for a blast to the golf club on a Sunday morning..... Of course, a major selling point will be the passive and active safety of the car.
There is a choice of two different engines - a 2.4-litre light-pressure turbo engine with 193bhp and a 2.3-litre turbo with 240bhp in the T5 - the same units as those available in the Coupe. Performance, as you might expect, is impressive, with the T5 reaching 62mph from standstill in just 7.5 seconds and onto an eventual top speed of 146mph - not advised if you wear a wig! |
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| The soft-top roof is fully automatic and operated and locked in place at just the press of a single button. No hooks, no attachments, no broken fingernails or grazed knuckles, the transformation is made in less than 30 effortless seconds. When folded down, the soft top and its glass electrically-heated rear window are concealed out of sight behind the rear seat. The roof is available in four different colours to match the body colour and an optional wind deflector can also be fitted behind the front seats. Furthermore, an intelligent climate control system and sophisticated 10-speaker stereo help to keep you cool when it�s hot and hot when it�s cool. This is not a car for the average Elise driver. |
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Now we come to the safety features - Volvo could write a book on this (you should see the press pack!), but we'll keep it short. The C70 convertible is the first open-top car to be fitted with automatic seat belt pre-tensioners on all four seats. The A-pillars and windscreen frame are reinforced with high-strength steel and work in combination with Volvo�s Roll Over Protection System - ROPS. ROPS involves automatic rear roll-over hoops which provide top-class protection if the car turns over. The hoops are concealed behind the standard headrests and are activated if the car turns over, similarly to Mercedes' system. A special sensor ensures that these hoops shoot up above head height and, with the strong A-pillars and windscreen frame, function as a roll-over hoop. ROPS combines with the front airbags, the SIPS side impact protection system and its associated SIPS bags and the new Whiplash Protection System, WHIPS. WHIPS cushions the entire upper body and head in a rear-impact collision in order to reduce whiplash injuries.
On the road prices range from �31,965 for the 2.4-litre up to �33,965 for the T5. This car may cause Ford to rethink the Jaguar S-Type convertible. |
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