Volvo C70 CONVERTIBLE RANGE
Volvos Venerable C70 Convertible Has Come In For A Subtle Makeover. Does It Still Have What It Takes? By Andy Enright
Since its introduction in May 1999, Volvos C70 Convertible has been an unobtrusive but steady seller. Following on from the now departed C70 Coupe, this elegant car represented Volvos first foray into the soft top market for over forty years. Now flying the C70 flag by itself, the Convertible has come in for a little attention to keep it looking good.
The first thing youll notice is what
Volvo calls the egg crate grille. This replaces the old fluted item and gives a touch of the S60 to the front of the car. The front and rear lights are also a good deal sharper looking, having been treated to the clear lens treatment. Its a clever makeover and one that works extremely well, giving the car a more purposeful appearance without alienating the C70 Convertibles core buyers or catastrophically depressing residual values of the older car.
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Sixteen-inch Ceres alloy wheels and a wind deflector are now also fitted as standard. Opt for the GT derivatives of either the 2.0T, the 2.4T or the T5 and youll get a driver information system, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, a CD changer linked to a nine (count em!) speaker Dolby Pro Logic surround sound stereo and a set of seventeen-inch Cratos alloy wheels.
Power levels of the two bigger-engined versions have increased thanks to a tweak to Volvos digital engine management system. The software gurus have liberated another 7bhp for the 2.4T lifting it to the all important 200bhp mark, whilst the T5 GT is massaged from 240 to 245bhp. Okay, so thats only about 2% more power but when it comes with no increases in fuel consumption or CO2 emissions, it would be churlish to grumble.
Some things havent changed. There was never anything wrong with the cars overall silhouette, thanks to uncluttered lines surrounding a hood that slips neatly beneath a metal tonneau cover. British Designer Peter Horbury jokes that it's the best looking topless Swede since Sixties movie star Anita Ekberg: most will agree.
"This car actually benefits from considerable British influence - and not only from the design team"
Volvo claims that the electrically-folding roof is one of the most technologically advanced available. It's operated via a single dashboard button: no hooks, no attachments, no broken fingernails or grazed knuckles. Just a silent transformation that occupies just thirty seconds. With the hood up, the only problem is a lack of visibility through the rather small rear window. Better to fold it down at every opportunity, a process which conceals the soft-top and its glass electrically-heated rear window out of sight behind the rear
seat.
The roof is available in four different colours to match the chosen body colour and an optional wind deflector (well worth specifying) can also be fitted behind the front seats. The wind deflector isnt the cleverest looking thing, but its undoubtedly effective. All models now come with leather upholstery, cruise control and interior wood inserts. Three different engines are available at prices which range between £24,883 and £29,983.
The entry-level 2.0T is good for 163bhp, the 2.4-litre light pressure turbo engine develops 200bhp, while the 2.3-litre fully-blown turbo in the T5 GT version manages 245bhp - good enough for rest to sixty in 7.
5s on the way to 146mph. This being a Volvo, safety has come in for considerable thought, the result of which has been a Roll-Over Protection System (ROPS). This ensures that if the car is about to turn over, hoops behind the standard rear headrests spring into place above head height. This works in conjunction with side impact and anti-whiplash systems borrowed from the S80.
In addition, this is the first convertible car to be fitted with automatic seatbelt pre-tensioners on all four seats. This car actually benefits from considerable British influence - and not only from the design team. The original project was master-minded by Tom Walkinshaw Racing and if theyd had similar success with his Arrows F1 team, they may now have been challenging for a podium position. TWR, you may remember, were also the team that took the boxy Volvo 850 and turned it into a race-winning force in the British Touring Car Championship.
The Kidlington-based operation specialises in chassis engineering; drive the C70 and it shows. The enthusiastic driver will find plenty to entertain, without any of the temperament that's exciting on your favourite twisty country lane but irritating just about everywhere else. Turn-in is crisp; only the ride quality could be slightly better. To be fair, since the C70 Coupe is more a Grand Tourer than a sportscar, it would be unreasonable to expect anything different from its soft-top stablemate. Lazy steering and a manual gearbox that doesn't like to be hurried discourage really over-enthusiastic use - though there's very little body-shake over uneven surfaces. No, this car is at its best in cruising mode. The 2.4-litre model with automatic transmission would probably be an ideal choice.
With the UK being the C70 Convertibles second biggest market behind the US, its important for Volvo to pitch this car correctly. They have a task on its hands. Mercedes CLK Convertible and Audis A4 Cabriolet both put a firm squeeze on the Volvo from above and below, levering it into an ever smaller niche. You want to see Darwinism at work in the convertible sector? Watch this space.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Volvo C70 Convertible range
PRICES: £24,883-£29,983 on the road
CO2 EMISSIONS: 226-236g/km
INSURANCE GROUPS: 15-17
PERFORMANCE: [T5] Max Speed 146mph/ 0-60mph 7.5s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [T5] (urban) 19mpg / (extra urban) 25mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, side airbags, ABS, SIPS WILL IT FIT INTO YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4720/1820/1410mm
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