2008 Volvo C70

Design

The all new Volvo C70 is short and low but relatively wide. Its proportions and design were chosen to give the car a powerful profile. In order to ensure harmonious lines both with and without the roof, Volvo’s designers decided to first draw the all new Volvo C70 as a coupe. Only after they were satisfied with the result did they make the necessary adjustments to create a convertible out of the finished design.

2008 Volvo C70

The car’s haunches flow to the rear, giving a dynamic stance and reinforcing the sensation of a protective collar around the rear seat passengers. The upward sweep is balanced visually by the wave-shaped sill line.

The tail section has an abrupt cut-off. The tail lamps echo the design language of Volvo’s sedan models, but with a slimmer profile to emphasise the C heritage.

The interior is inspired by Scandinavian product design with the emphasis on uncluttered surfaces, honest materials and good function. The C70 also has features such as Volvo’s ultra-slim, visually free-floating centre console, a specially developed upholstery material (Vulcaflex) and interior space that is remarkably generous for this type of car.

The all new Volvo C70 is designed for four adults. The rear has two pronounced, deeply contoured seats.

The retractable hardtop is raised and lowered in about thirty seconds with the help of an electric motor and hydraulics. When lowered, it is fully concealed in the luggage compartment. Thanks to a special load assistance function, the remaining space can nonetheless be utilised very effectively for luggage.

One new aluminium wheel has been introduced as an option for the Volvo C70: The 7.5x17" Serapis C.

2008 Volvo C70

Volvo C70 gets two new exterior colours:

• 489 Matt Gold pearl
• 487 Ember Black pearl, a black pearl paint with a copper lustre and visible premium feeling

The major interior news is the tunnel console and the armrest that has been given a completely new design matching the dashboard’s unique, floating centre console and with the same type of decor inserts. The aim has been to provide the highest possible feeling of quality while still increasing the flexibility and storage possibilities.

BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) now becomes available in the Volvo C70, making it an optional extra in all Volvo models. As a result, the C70 model gets the same rear view mirrors as the Volvo S40 and V50.

In order to minimise the risk of children unintentionally opening the windows whilst driving, or opening the roof in the C70 model, these controls have been given a new design with protective "barriers" situated between the buttons.

Boda has been launched as a new, common base upholstery material for the Volvo S40, V50, C30 and C70 models, replacing the two upholstery materials Boden and Bodal. Spring Green is a completely new upholstery colour.

2008 Volvo C70

Dalarö replaces Dala. The look has been updated with, among other things, a new accent colour for the Off Black interior.

DotCom is leather upholstery with a new surface structure. For the Off Black interior there is a new dark brown accent colour - Cacao.

A high quality leather material - Sovereign Hide - is now available in the Volvo C70.

Safety

Volvo Cars adopts a holistic view of safety that encompasses both Preventive and Protective safety. Preventive safety is closely linked to the car’s driving properties. The all new Volvo C70 is twice as torsionally rigid as the previous C70 model, thanks to an advanced and reinforced body structure. Combined with a sturdy chassis, torsional rigidity helps give the car consistent, predictable behaviour on the road (see also under "Powertrain and Chassis").

Volvo Cars has developed various information systems designed to help the driver while on the move. One such system is IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System), which for instance delays incoming phone calls in complex traffic situations that require the driver’s undivided attention.

2008 Volvo C70

Protective safety in the all new Volvo C70 is structured around a network consisting of exterior and interior safety systems that interact with one another to reduce the risk of occupant injury in a collision. The exterior systems have the task of distributing and absorbing incoming collision forces so that the passenger compartment remains as intact and undamaged as possible. The body is therefore built in the form of a metal cage made of different grades of steel, where all the components interact with one another to ensure controlled deformation.

Since the all new Volvo C70 does not have a fixed roof, the body has been reinforced in a variety of ways to allow the rest of the car’s structure to absorb a greater proportion of the impact energy. When a car rolls over, its windscreen frame is subjected to immense force. In the all new Volvo C70, the windscreen pillars are made using hydroforming technology, whereby it is possible to make each pillar in one single piece but with varying thickness and high strength along its entire length. Even the ROPS bars - the metal hoops that come up behind the rear passengers in the event of a roll-over scenario - are particularly sturdily dimensioned and are activated exceptionally quickly.

The interior safety systems aim to keep the passengers securely in place and also to reduce the risk of serious injury. In order to provide the most effective protection possible, Volvo Cars has developed a number of in-house systems, such as WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) and IC (Inflatable Curtain). All are fitted as standard in the all new Volvo C70.

2008 Volvo C70

The inflatable curtain has been tailored for the convertible and is installed in the door. It deploys upwards. In order to further boost protection in the event of a roll-over scenario, the curtain deflates slowly. Every seat is equipped with a three-point seat belt, belt pre-tensioner and head restraint. The highest possible safety requires that all the car’s occupants always use their seat belts.

Powertrain and chassis

The engines in the all new Volvo C70 are five-cylinder, transversely installed in-line units. A five-cylinder engine gives low vibration and smooth operation. Together with large displacement, the five-cylinder configuration provides high torque across a broad rev band, and thus also swift acceleration and excellent driveability within a wide speed range.

The Volvo C70 T5 is the top model and it features a turbocharged engine mated to either a five-speed automatic transmission or six-speed manual gearbox. The T5 models of the Volvo S40, V50, C30 and C70 are now available with improved power output. The increase in power, from 220 to 230 bhp, is the combined result of a number of minor changes..

2008 Volvo C70

The chassis, with spring struts at the front and Multilink axle at the rear, is set up for stable, reassuring driving manners and alert steering response. The Multilink rear axle is an independent rear suspension system featuring a number of links and it is designed to offer a good combination of controlled wheel movements and high ride comfort. Some of these links have the task of providing a certain degree of anti-skid steering effect. A long wheelbase and wide track, together with a very torsionally rigid body, contribute to the predictable, controlled driving manners. What is more, chassis height has been substantially lowered front and rear to further benefit directional stability.

Volvo’s advanced DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) stability-enhancing system is fitted as standard. DSTC cuts in and helps stabilise the car if it registers any tendency to skid.

The environment

The all new Volvo C70 is designed and equipped to impact as little as possible on the global environment and to offer a clean and healthy interior climate. Petrol engines with low internal friction, efficient combustion and advanced exhaust filtration technology result in low emissions.

2008 Volvo C70

The engines in the Volvo C70 can be optionally specified with a catalytic radiator coating known as PremAir®. This system converts harmful ground-level ozone into pure oxygen as the car drives. Its benefits are greatest in dense city traffic and in strong sunlight. Volvo’s IAQS (Interior Air Quality System) effectively reduces the amount of particles, pollen, gases and certain unpleasant odours in the air entering the cabin. All the textiles and leather upholsteries are certified according to ÖKO-TEX 100, an international standard that ensures that the interior trim is free from allergy-producing and hazardous substances.