2007 Volvo C70 Convertible

What's New?
The second-generation Volvo C70 made its debut in 2006. But while the original C70 was available as a coupe or a convertible, the new model blended the two body styles into one with Volvo's first retractable hardtop design. The only changes for 2007 consist of improvements to the standard audio system, including the addition of a new auxiliary-input jack, MP3-playback capability for the CD player, and optional Sirius Satellite Radio.

Overview
Volvo spent years trying to change public perception as a purveyor of boxy cars that were safe if uninspiring. The last several years have seen Volvo putting just as much effort into performance and styling as they have into safety. When the original C70 debuted in 2002 as both a coupe and convertible, it seemed that Volvo couldn't get much further from the staid 240 model that served them so well for so many years...or could they? Volvo proved they had yet another trick up their sleeve when they introduced the second-generation C70: they had combined the coupe and convertible into one single vehicle.

The C70 hardtop convertible uses a steel roof that retracts into the vehicle's trunk. The design enabled Volvo to build a car that offers the same open-top joy as a convertible yet seals up as tightly as a steel-roofed coupe when the top is closed. Tight panel gaps—especially around the trunk and roof—ensure that the C70 looks like a proper coupe with the top up. Trunk space with the top down is an Achilles heel of the hardtop-convertible design, but Volvo addresses this with the C70's unique load-assist feature, which moves part of the stored top out of the way when the trunk is opened to allow easier loading.

The C70 is available in a single T5 trim level; it gets its name (and its power) from a 2.5-liter, 5-cylinder turbocharged engine that puts 218 hp and 236 lb.-ft. of torque to the front wheels via either a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. Safety is an integral part of the C70’s design. Along with anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, the C70 has convertible-specific safety systems such as side air bags mounted in the door that provide front-seat passengers with the same protection as a roof-mounted "curtain" system and pop-up roll bars behind the rear seats.

The Competition
The Volvo C70 competes in the Compact Premium Sporty segment, which consists of eight models. Buyers in this segment look for exterior styling, performance, and quality, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,SM were the Nissan 350Z (24,635 units sold), the now-discontinued Acura RSX (16,996), and Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class (16,415). The Volvo C70 sold 3,947 units in 2006, an increase of 173.7 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Compact Premium Sporty segment include the BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class, Porsche Cayman, Honda S2000, and Porsche Boxster.