2007 Volvo C70 Convertible Preview

Retracting, folding hardtops are becoming more commonplace in the convertible market these days. Mercedes-Benz has been doing them since the late 1990s, and more recently Pontiac announced that a new version of the G6 would have one. Next in line is Volvo. With the all-new 2007 Volvo C70, the canvas top of the old version is replaced with an all-new, three-piece, electric retractable hard top. The result is a car with the style and quietness of a standard hardtop coupe, but the press of a button transforms it into an open-air cruiser, creating the best of both worlds. Development and design of the new 2007 Volvo C70 was a joint venture between Volvo and the renowned Pininfarina design studio in Italy, but the car shares many interior elements with the S40 sedan and V50 wagon.

Due to be unveiled at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, the new Volvo C70 is significantly more attractive and sophisticated than the car it replaces, serving well as a way to draw customers looking for style and sporty driving character, as well as safety, into showrooms.

Why it matters

In the late 1990s, Volvo introduced the C70 coupe and convertible to add some sex appeal to a lineup of dowdy sedans and wagon known best for safety and comfort rather than excitement. This new model continues that effort, but safety is just as important as ever in the 2007 C70. To reinforce the structure, enhancements increase safety and rigidity in the C70, but the design of the door-mounted side airbags is the most significant effort engineers made with this new car. To make them stay inflated for a longer period of time, Volvo has designed the side airbags to be more rigid. Additionally, the bags deflate slower to provide as much protection as possible in a rollover accident. According to Volvo, this is a unique design among convertibles.

What it looks like

With the 2007 Volvo C70, the Swedish automaker started the design process by crafting a four-passenger coupe. When stylists were satisfied with the coupe’s design, engineers figured out how to make the hard top retract and hide beneath an integrated tonneau cover. The result is a striking sports coupe with an unmistakable Volvo family resemblance, which tackles inclement weather better than most ragtops and turns into a sophisticated convertible when the skies clear and the temperatures are balmy.

How quick it is

A 2.5-liter, inline, five-cylinder, turbocharged powerplant produces 218 horsepower and offers up 236 lb.-ft of torque. This is the top engine choice in the S40 sedan and V50 wagon upon which the 2007 Volvo C70 is based. With the added weight of the retractable hardtop, necessary chassis reinforcements, and all of the hardware required to make the top work right and the car as safe as possible, maximum power is always a welcome attribute.

What we think

Four people look comfortable here, but the reality is that with tall people up front, the 2007 Volvo C70’s rear seat occupants had better be short. Due to be unveiled at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, the new Volvo C70 is significantly more attractive and sophisticated than the car it replaces, serving well as a way to draw customers looking for style and sporty driving character, as well as safety, into showrooms.

Photos courtesy of Volvo