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2006 Volvo C70 Mid-Size Convertible Coupe
Gorgeous Volvo C70 full of surprises
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New Car Review of the 2006 Volvo C70 Mid-Size Convertible Coupe
Base MSRP Range: $38,710
Base Invoice Range: $36,340
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MSRP As Tested: $40,400
Versions: T5.
Vehicle Category: Mid-Size Convertible Coupe
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: Front-Wheel Drive.
Standard Engine: 2.5-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 20-valves, Turbocharged, I-5, 218 – horsepower at 5000 rpm and 236 lb-ft torque at 1500 rpm.
Transmission: Six-speed manual, Five-speed automatic.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 20/29, 21/29.
Standard Safety Features: Dual front airbags, Front side airbags, Automatic roll bar, Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, Brake Assist, Antiskid system, Daytime running lights.
Competition: Acura TSX, Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G35, Saab 9-3.
I pulled into my driveway in a sleek, red, two-door car when I came home for lunch last Monday.
My wife, who watched through the front window, immediately asked, "What kind of car is that?"
A Volvo, I told her.
"No way! Volvos aren't supposed to look that good!"
And she was right. Volvos are known for being safe and practical, but they usually aren't the slightest bit sexy. Until recently, they were boxy, slab-sided, ugly machines that looked like they were designed by the same people who build toasters and microwaves for a living. They were anything but sensual.
But this Volvo, the all-new C70 convertible, shrugs off its nasty-looking roots and actually has a pretty body. You can still tell it's a Volvo by its angular, pointy front end and distinctive grille, but the rest of the car would look at home on any high-end European sports coupe. Its curved roofline has a Mercedes-like character, and I even detected a tad bit of Ferrari influence on the back. When taken as a whole, though, this car is unmistakably Swedish.
The beautiful styling isn't the only surprise. For serious gasps, you have to press a button on the dash to make the hard roof fold away into the trunk, revealing a gorgeous topless profile and allowing the kind of wind-in-your-hair fun that Volvos have never been famous for.
And that's a conundrum.
To be honest, I used to think people who drove Volvo convertibles had mental problems. Not only was their car shaped like a cardboard box and never looked good with the top down, but they ignored the whole idea behind owning a Volvo -- the fact that it's safe and sensible. A convertible is neither because it has less structural rigidity than a hard-top car and a tendency to turn your head into hamburger meat if it should ever flip over.
The C70 solves this crazy contradiction in a couple of ways. For one, the retractable top is made of steel and feels so solid that it shakes the whole car when you put it up or down. For even greater protection, a pop-up rollbar is deployed when the car senses it's about to flip. It uses a pyrotechnic charge to send the rollbar smashing through the back window in an instant to keep your head from hitting the pavement.
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