"A torsionally rigid body is important to the car's ride and handling traits," says C70 project manager Patrik Widerstrand. "It makes the car more
stable and easier to control. It also makes the car more dynamic and fun to drive," not to mention cutting back on torque-steer, a problem which plagued first-gen C70 convertibles.
When the C70 arrives in dealerships, it will feature a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five that will produce 218-horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. This is the same engine that Volvo uses to power the S40/V50 T5, and is a detuned version of the hot 300-horsepower powerplant found in the R-series S60 and V70. The car will be available with a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox, or 5-speed automatic with Geartronic manual mode driving the front wheels.
Elsewhere in the world, the C70 will be available with two other powerplants, the 170-horsepower 2.4-liter I-5 found in mid-level S40/V50/S60 models, which will be followed by Volvo's 180-horsepower aluminum-intensive D5 common-rail turbodiesel. While it's unlikely that the North American market will receive the D5 diesel, Volvo may eventually offer the 2.4 as an entry-level option to attract more buyers. There's no word yet on whether Volvo will offer all-wheel drive with the C70 either, a feature that
could potentially help Volvo's new retractable hardtop target Audi's A4 Cabriolet Quattro.
As makers of some of the world's safest motor vehicles, the C70 wouldn't be a true Volvo if it didn't offer some sort of new safety feature - and it does. The C70 offers an inflatable curtain, a first amongst convertibles. Normally, a head-protection system for side impacts like an inflatable curtain requires a roof and pillars, however, Volvo's innovative inflatable curtain is mounted in the door. In the event of a side impact, the airbag inflates upwards to protect the driver's head and torso. Unlike a conventional airbag, mind you, it remains upright and inflated for longer in order to offer better protection, and deflates at a slower rate to protect the driver and passenger in a rollover. This is, of course, in addition to a retractable roll bar.
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| The C70 is much more curved at the windshield compared to the S40 and V50, to flow into the raked roofline, promoting a sleeker shape. (Photo: Volvo of America) |
When the C70 arrives in dealerships, it will feature a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five that will produce 218-horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. This is the same engine that Volvo uses to power the S40/V50 T5, and is a detuned version of the hot 300-horsepower powerplant found in the R-series S60 and V70. The car will be available with a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox, or 5-speed automatic with Geartronic manual mode driving the front wheels.
Elsewhere in the world, the C70 will be available with two other powerplants, the 170-horsepower 2.4-liter I-5 found in mid-level S40/V50/S60 models, which will be followed by Volvo's 180-horsepower aluminum-intensive D5 common-rail turbodiesel. While it's unlikely that the North American market will receive the D5 diesel, Volvo may eventually offer the 2.4 as an entry-level option to attract more buyers. There's no word yet on whether Volvo will offer all-wheel drive with the C70 either, a feature that
 |
| Volvo's innovative inflatable curtain is mounted in the door, and in the event of a side impact it inflates upwards to protect the front occupant's head and torso. (Photo: Volvo of America) |
As makers of some of the world's safest motor vehicles, the C70 wouldn't be a true Volvo if it didn't offer some sort of new safety feature - and it does. The C70 offers an inflatable curtain, a first amongst convertibles. Normally, a head-protection system for side impacts like an inflatable curtain requires a roof and pillars, however, Volvo's innovative inflatable curtain is mounted in the door. In the event of a side impact, the airbag inflates upwards to protect the driver's head and torso. Unlike a conventional airbag, mind you, it remains upright and inflated for longer in order to offer better protection, and deflates at a slower rate to protect the driver and passenger in a rollover. This is, of course, in addition to a retractable roll bar.