The newly refreshed 2011 Volvo C70 blends the striking good looks of a retractable hardtop convertible with the spirited soul of a luxury sports sedan.
2011 greets the Volvo C70 with sleek new exterior styling, including an athletic, angular front end carefully sculpted to give the two-door convertible the striking look and spirit of a sports coupe. Standard fog lights and an available set of Active Bending Xenon headlamps precede a chiseled body, with powerful lines that stretch the full length of the vehicle’s flanks, pouring over available 18-inch alloys to the nicely tapered back end.
As it always has been, the primary draw of the C70 is its alluring penchant for free-spirited, open air driving. This year’s luxury convertible sports a sleek, three-split fully-automatic retractable hardtop that looks as good up as it does tucked neatly away in its rear compartment (a feat it performs in under 30 seconds). Inside, you’ll get surprisingly spacious leather-coated seating for four. Heated seats are available in the front, and complement the intuitive Electronic Climate Control System.
While the C70 comes standard with a high-performance, eight-speaker audio system and HD Radio, a premium, 12-speaker Dolby® Pro Logic® II surround sound stereo is an upgradable feature. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, auxiliary and USB ports and Bluetooth hands-free communication come standard, and a portable Garmin navigation system is optional. The C70 rolls off the line with a leather-clad steering wheel and sleek aluminum accents, but available packages integrate sophisticated wood inlays and a wooden sport wheel.
The 2011 edition of the popular convertible gets a standard inline 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo engine, which makes 227 hp and 236 lb/ft of torque, along with 28 highway mpg. Variable all valve timing brings greater quickness to the five-cylinder, and a standard five-speed Geartronic transmission is precise and to the point. An advanced MacPherson strut suspension and a generous wheelbase give the C70 impressive agility, a trait supported by the added confidence and responsiveness of the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control Antiskid System. The convertible supports it all with a set of antilock brakes with Electronic Brake Assistance.
Volvo engineered the latest C70 with some of the most advanced safety measures ever integrated into a convertible. A fully reinforced chassis and frame sports an energy-absorbing front end and interior paneling, a collapsible steering column and an advanced Side Impact Protection System. A gyroscope-based Roll-Over Protection System immediately deploys sturdy steel roll bars from behind the rear seats to form a protective cage should the vehicle lose its footing, and a front-seat Whiplash Protection System cradles the neck and spine in the event of rear impact.
Graceful, sophisticated and eminently spirited, the luxurious 2011 C70 convertible delivers premium open-air driving at an impressively affordable price. Despite its attractive form, surprising comfort and lengthy list of standard amenities and safety features, the new Volvo gets a starting MSRP below 40k ($39,950, to be exact).
