2011 Volvo C70 Convertible

Retractable hardtop adds four-season versatility

By Nina Russin

2011 Volvo C70

I doubt there’s a group of people in the western world who appreciate sunshine more than the Swedes. After a long, dark winter, the arrival of summer and the midnight sun is cause for celebration.

By Swedish standards, a sunroof is a compromise. The only way to truly enjoy driving in the sun is to go topless.

As much as convertibles appeal to the Swedish sensibility, soft tops are not practical in the harsh Scandinavian winter. The C70 is a coupe with a retractable hard top: a car with the versatility to function in both winter and summer.

The steel hardtop adds a measure of safety by making the overall body structure more rigid. Volvo engineers found a way to incorporate both side and side curtain airbags in the car: something not found in competitive products.

A standard five-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 227 horsepower. Peak torque of 236 foot-pounds comes on just off idle, enhancing the car’s performance on uphill grades. Turbocharging, which uses exhaust driven blowers to enhance airflow through the engine, reduces emissions as well as power loss at altitude.

The C70 averaged 22.9 miles per gallon on the 130-mile test drive: about a mile-per-gallon better than the EPA estimate.

A five-speed automatic transmission with manual gear selection gives the driver more control on challenging roads. A fully independent suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars provides a comfortable ride, while keeping the chassis flat in the turns. Read the rest of this entry »