It’s been a huge week for Volvo Australia – On the same day as launching the updated Volvo C30, Volvo also took the covers off the face lifted Volvo C70
Jumping behind the wheel of the C70 convertible/coupe and folding the hardtop down in 30 seconds, I was expecting to feel every bit of the cold autumn country air Melbourne had provided us. It was a pleasant surprise as we drove along the country roads with roof down, Volvo’s excellent heated leather seats and the wind deflector did its work, we stayed warm and toasty.
Volvo has focused most of the updates on the front of the car. The newly designed headlights now sweep gracefully in to the new mudguards slotting in perfectly with the new front air vents. The back of the C70 now has cleaner and wider appearance. Other changes to the rear are the addition of new LED lights and the introduction of the Volvo’s Emergency Brake Light system. The system is automatically engaged once the car is travelling over 60km/h. If the vehicle is involved in an emergency braking situation the system flashes the stoplights five times per second until the car slows below 10km/h. Once the vehicle has slowed to below 10km/h, the hazards lights are automatically activated. The hazards can be turned off manually or will automatically stop if the car reaches over 10km/h.
As with the C30 Volvo the designers were inspired by Swedish Hagstrom guitars for the Oyster Burst Deco texture on the centre stack and door panel. The addition of the Cranberry Red leather interior is also a nice rock n roll touch.
The Volvo C70 is sold in two variants the S and T5 models. The S is powered by 2.4litre 125kw engine with 230Nmof torque couple with either a five speed manual or Volvo’s 5 speed Geartronic Auto. The T5 is powered by the same excellent 2.5litre turbocharged 169kw 320Nm engine found the C30 T5 R-Design. With two choices of transmissions available in the form of the sporty 6 speed manual or 5 speed Geartronic Auto.
Both C70 models can be optioned with the Teknik Pack and features Volvo Navigation System, Blind Spot Identification System (BLIS), Active Bending Lights, Compass, Bluetooth and the Headlight Washer System. The pack is priced at $4,725 for the T5 and $6,300 for the 2.4i model.
As you would expect from the one of the leaders in Automotive safety the C70 has been packed full of safety features. Features include dual-stage front airbags, front side airbags and innovative door-mounted inflatable curtain airbags, which were a world-first for Volvo. While rear parking sensors come as standard on both models. Whiplash Protection System comes in the front seats, as well as the SIPS side impact protection system that brings various systems, including side and curtain airbags, as well as extensive engineering of the body structure into play to provide the best possible protection in a side impact.
Priced from $59,950 for the C70 S and $69,950 C70 T5 these convertibles are excellent full sized four seaters. You would need to spend a few extra dollars to get in to a full sized euro like Audi’s A4 or BMW 3 series.
