Volvo lifts the lid on the new C70
|
|
|
Interesting 'convertible' road tests coming soon to Next Car
include: Chrysler Sebring, Lexus IS 250C, Peugeot 308 CC, Saab 9-3 and Volkswagen Eos.
|
|
|
Home >
News >
Volvo
6th September, 2009
Volvo's new C70 will debut at Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA)
in Germany later this month.
Equipped with the same three-piece steel roof and seating for four adults, the new C70 features a
revised front and rear design, along with an updated interior.
"The Volvo C70 has classic convertible lines and a strong identity of its own. What we have done
is to carefully redesign the front and rear so they harmonise more with both today's and tomorrow's
Volvo models. We have also increased the exclusiveness of the materials and trim details to enhance the
atmosphere of luxury and enjoyment inside the car," explains Fedde Talsma, Exterior Chief Designer
at Volvo Cars.
Modernised, self-assured front
With its new front, the Volvo C70 reveals traces of the S60 Concept Car that was unveiled at the
Detroit Motor Show earlier this year, bringing the C70 in line with Volvo's new design language.
Bodywork details such as the front guards have also been redesigned, while the nose is more
wedge-shaped and has been given added three-dimensional depth by moving some elements of the front.
The new headlamps and the décor around the foglamps, for instance, have been angled offset up and to
the rear, at the same time as the detailing of the lower grille has been enhanced.
From head-on, the front forms an open, inviting "V". The enlarged iron mark and the new, larger air
intake reinforce the self-assured stance. Owners who want to be seen even more can specify a dramatic
new red colour, Flamenco Red Pearl.
"The new C70 has a clearer, more pronounced face. The car's natural elegance has been modernised
so it blends seamlessly with the most up-to-date, the most sophisticated backdrops," says Fedde
Talsma.
New rear design
The high-tech LED lamps - the same type as found on the Volvo XC60 - are the most noticeable update
at the rear. The entire lamp unit is clearly integrated with the oval that frames the new C70's rear
panel.
As at the front, new lines and details in the bumper and elsewhere have been integrated to
emphasise the depth and dynamism of the design language.
Interior that rewards the driver
The interior has been updated in several respects to provide a unique ambience in the Volvo C70.
The instrument panel has been redesigned, giving it a wider, sleeker look and the surface of the panel
has a new texture that enhances the feeling of quality.
The new instruments, with gauges and graphics specific to the C70, are another example of how the
car's premium feel has been emphasised further.
|
|
|
Self-Catering Holiday
Accommodation in
Denmark, WA
..... more
|
|
|
"We've focused the new interior features around the driver to give the owner a stronger
perception of being rewarded behind the wheel. The seats are upholstered in a new type of soft hide
and there is even better detail finish to make driving a more pleasurable experience than ever
before," continues Fedde Talsma.
World-leading safety among convertibles
The new Volvo C70 has been engineered as one of the safest convertibles on the market, as regards
both active and passive safety. The car has an advanced body structure and several solutions that are
unique in the world of open-top cars. The lack of a fixed roof has been compensated by structural
reinforcements and sophisticated technology.
Protection in roll-over accidents
The Volvo C70 has sturdy metal hoops that shoot up behind the rear seat passengers to provide
added protective space should the car roll over. These hoops, which are part of Volvo's Rollover
Protection System (ROPS), are activated by a gyro-sensor. Since the Volvo C70 has a proper glass rear
window, the hoops shoot up through the glass if the roof is up. They have therefore been fitted with
small hardened metal spikes that break the glass to guarantee proper protective function. No mention
has been made as to how far the broken glass glass will 'fly'. Further, Next Car is not aware
how Volvo aims to justify sending flying glass into the air as a car 'flips'.
Unique door-mounted inflatable curtain
One important part of the side-impact and rollover protection is the inflatable curtain, which
is installed in the door since there is no roof rail in which to fit it. The curtain has an
extra-stiff design featuring twin rows of panels that are offset somewhat in relation to one another.
As a result, the curtain can remain upright and help protect the head in an effective way even if the
window is open. What is more, the curtain deflates slowly, helping to provide added protection should
the car roll over.
Side-impact airbags and safety belt pre-tensioners for all seats
In addition to the inflatable curtains on either side, the front seat occupants also have
side-impact airbags. The size of these bags is designed to shield both the chest and hips. What is
more, the inflatable curtain interacts with the belt pre-tensioners to contribute to the protection
for front seat occupants in a side impact or rollover situation. All four seats come with safety
belt pre-tensioners.
Australian Availability
The updated Volvo C70 is due for arrival in Australia next March (2010).
Volvo Safety
In 1927 Volvo’s founders Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson stated that: “Cars are driven by
people. The guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo therefore, is – and must remain –
safety.”
| 
