- Anticipated on-sale in Australia – second half of 2006
- Reduction of at least 10 percent on current C70 pricing
- 162kW, turbocharged T5 available at launch
- Three-piece metal cabriolet hardtop
- Substantial boot size
- World-first safety technology developed for C70
- Twice the body rigidity of previous C70
- Pininfarina-Volvo Cars joint venture
The all-new Volvo C70 cabriolet is ready to take its place in the sun. And it
doubles as a hardtop coupe!
Thanks to a unique three-piece retractable hardtop, customers of the
second-generation Volvo C70 will enjoy driving without compromise – whether the
top is up or down.
The all-new Volvo C70 will be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in
September.
“We’ve succeeded in creating an attractive cabriolet which, at the mere touch
of a button, converts into an equally elegant coupe. The customer gets two cars
in one; both with space for four adults,” says Volvo Cars President and CEO
Hans-Olov Olsson.
The all-new Volvo C70 still offers impressive interior size and seating for
four adults as did its predecessor.
"Creating harmonious lines with and without a roof is not an easy task,” says
Fedde Talsma, design manager for the all-new Volvo C70. “We designed the C70 as
a coupe first. We then made the necessary adjustments to create a cabriolet from
the coupe's lines. Our experience tells us this is the best way to achieve
design that is beautiful as a cabriolet and as a coupe.”
Unique safety solutions
The all-new Volvo C70 achieves new
standards of preventive and protective safety in the cabriolet market. The car
has an advanced body structure and several solutions that make it unique among
open-top cars. One unique example is the door-mounted Inflatable Curtain (IC),
which is part of the enhanced protection system for side impacts. Since the IC
cannot be located in the roof, as it is in all other Volvos, the Inflatable
Curtain is located in the door and inflates upward when deployed.
For its role in the C70, Volvo's safety engineers have fine-tuned the IC to
be extra stiff. As a result, it can remain upright and help protect the head
effectively. To provide additional protection if the car rolls over, the curtain
deflates slowly. This is a unique safety solution in the automotive industry.
Continuing from the previous C70, the all-new C70 is also equipped with
Volvo's Rollover Protection System (ROPS).
High torsional rigidity
The body structure, in a carefully designed
network of beams, contributes greatly to the car’s high safety standards. It
also gives the body extremely high torsional rigidity – twice as high as that of
the previous C70 model. With the roof up, torsional rigidity increases by a
further 10-15 percent.
“A torsionally rigid body is important to the car’s driving behaviour,” says
C70 project manager Patrik Widerstrand. “It makes the car more stable, more
responsive to the driver and easier to control. It also makes the car more
dynamic and fun to drive.”
The all-new Volvo C70 will be powered initially by in-line, five-cylinder
petrol engines topped by the turbocharged 2.5-litre T5 developing a maximum of
162kW and offering maximum torque of 320Nm.
The Australian market will also receive the naturally aspirated, in-line
five-cylinder, 2.4-litre engine delivering 125kW and 230Nm.
Later during 2006, the European market will receive the C70 with Volvo's
advanced 2.4-litre, five-cylinder D5 turbodiesel engine producing 132kW.
Cooperation with Pininfarina
The development and manufacture of the
all-new Volvo C70 is the result of a joint venture with renowned Italian company
Pininfarina. The all-new C70, like its predecessor, will be built in Uddevalla,
Sweden.
“Pininfarina is an excellent partner with extensive experience in developing
and building cabriolets,” says Hans-Olov Olsson.
The first-generation C70 cabriolet had its best year in 2004 with just more
than 8,000 cars sold. “Our all-new C70 is one of the first open-top cars in the
premium segment with both a steel roof and space for four adults. We believe
this is a highly desirable combination. That’s why we expect to more than double
our sales compared with the first-generation C70,” says Hans-Olov Olsson.
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