Back in the early 2000s, Jeremy Clarkson produced a TV series titled ‘Superstars of Speed’ that explored man’s obsession with all things fast. It featured interviews with the likes of the late Colin McRae (still the best WRC driver in my mind) and Michael von ‘Baron’ Schumacher in an attempt to find out how these men were able to drive at the speeds they do.
During one of the episodes, Jeremy interviewed this short stumpy balding fighter pilot named Rhys Williams. Now what sets Rhys apart from most pilots is that unlike most pilots who like having control of their jets, Rhys is an instructor at Britain’s prestigious Empire Test Pilot School who routinely departs the jets he fly from controlled flight.
He basically spends his day everyday showing test pilot trainees what happens when a jet goes out of control. The only time a jet he’s flying is in control is during take-offs and landings. The rest of the time, the jet is plunging and tumbling down to Earth on all axes like a rock with the laws of aerodynamics in complete disarray.
While the trainee pilot wets his pants in the disorienting chaos, ice-cool Mr Williams is calmly mumbling off his mental checklist on how to recover the plane.
What Mr Williams does is probably one of the most dangerous kinds of flying that a pilot can do. Most pilots would prefer to have their jet in control at all times.
During one of the episodes, Jeremy interviewed this short stumpy balding fighter pilot named Rhys Williams. Now what sets Rhys apart from most pilots is that unlike most pilots who like having control of their jets, Rhys is an instructor at Britain’s prestigious Empire Test Pilot School who routinely departs the jets he fly from controlled flight.
He basically spends his day everyday showing test pilot trainees what happens when a jet goes out of control. The only time a jet he’s flying is in control is during take-offs and landings. The rest of the time, the jet is plunging and tumbling down to Earth on all axes like a rock with the laws of aerodynamics in complete disarray.
While the trainee pilot wets his pants in the disorienting chaos, ice-cool Mr Williams is calmly mumbling off his mental checklist on how to recover the plane.
What Mr Williams does is probably one of the most dangerous kinds of flying that a pilot can do. Most pilots would prefer to have their jet in control at all times.
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Back on terra firma, Jeremy Clarkson naturally asks Mr Williams, “What sort of car does a man like you drive?”. You would expect him to reply with something like a Ferrari an Aston Martin or some other fire-breathing sportscar that’s in line with his Top Gun fighter pilot image. But no, Mr Williams calmly replies, “A Volvo Estate”. A perplexed Clarkson asks, “Why?”. And with a straight face he replies, “Because it’s safe”.
What we usually refer to as safe more often than not equates to boring. And Volvo is one of the safest automobiles around. But as the latest Volvo C70 has shown, safe can be drop dead gorgeously sexy and exciting too.
Exterior
Gone are the hearses that we used to associate with a Volvo estate.
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There was little to distinguish the previous C70 from the S40 sedan model except the absence of another set of doors. As told by Volvo’s chief designer Fedde Talsma, in the latest C70, designers have made a greater effort to distinguish the cabriolet from the rest of the family.
Despite the front fascia bearing obvious styling cues from the new S60 sedan, the C70 possesses a slightly more aggressive look. To up the sportiness of this model, Volvo designers stretched the headlights a little further back and blended it seamlessly into the car’s waistline.
The prominent chrome grilled snout is also minutely more prominent than on the S60 with both extremes forming up together with the waistline to run along the length of this beauty. Lower down, a gaping air intake and larger foglight surrounds combine to give the car in front of you a more aggressive profile to contend with.
A stretched bonnet and severely raked A-pillars blend seamlessly with the folding steel roof to give the C70 an unbroken coupe roofline that adds to this car’s elegance. Unlike the 3 series cabriolets that possess a rather awkward roofline that makes one feel like the roof was an afterthought.
The C70’s elegance continues to the rear with new LED tail lamps that integrates itself aptly with the chiseled muscular decklid. The shapely rear bumper compliments the twin chrome tailpipes that peek out from under its rear diffuser. Thus completing the Volvo’s curvaceous visual symphony.
The new Flemenco Red Pearl that the test car came in complimented the car’s muscular stance to a tee. It was nothing short of a joy to shoot with the car standing out dramatically no matter the backdrop as a lifestyle oriented product like a cabriolet should.
Despite the front fascia bearing obvious styling cues from the new S60 sedan, the C70 possesses a slightly more aggressive look. To up the sportiness of this model, Volvo designers stretched the headlights a little further back and blended it seamlessly into the car’s waistline.
The prominent chrome grilled snout is also minutely more prominent than on the S60 with both extremes forming up together with the waistline to run along the length of this beauty. Lower down, a gaping air intake and larger foglight surrounds combine to give the car in front of you a more aggressive profile to contend with.
A stretched bonnet and severely raked A-pillars blend seamlessly with the folding steel roof to give the C70 an unbroken coupe roofline that adds to this car’s elegance. Unlike the 3 series cabriolets that possess a rather awkward roofline that makes one feel like the roof was an afterthought.
The C70’s elegance continues to the rear with new LED tail lamps that integrates itself aptly with the chiseled muscular decklid. The shapely rear bumper compliments the twin chrome tailpipes that peek out from under its rear diffuser. Thus completing the Volvo’s curvaceous visual symphony.
The new Flemenco Red Pearl that the test car came in complimented the car’s muscular stance to a tee. It was nothing short of a joy to shoot with the car standing out dramatically no matter the backdrop as a lifestyle oriented product like a cabriolet should.
Interior
Besides its design, another important element for the C70 to be considered a successful lifestyle vehicle is in its interior design. Relax Volvo, you bunch have done a splendid job on the interior too. Pull on the touch sensitive keyless entry doors and you will see that the interior oozes with a luxurious upmarket feel.
In the test car, the Calcite coloured interior with Umbra inserts complimented the Flemenco Red Pearl exterior perfectly. It gave the car a good mix of elegance and presence. Settle into the driver’s seat and you will immediately notice the comfort offered by the seats wrapped in Sovereign Hide leather. Having been in high specced BMW and Mercedes-Benz models before, the premium hide in the Volvo leaves the others waning in its wake. The leather manages to be soft and supple and when coupled with the ergonomic seats, the comfort level is unparalleled. The 11 straight tireless hours this journalist spent driving the C70 all over the island is testament to that.
The rake and reach adjustable leather-clad sports steering wheel added to the driving comfort by having just the right amount of thickness and diameter. Beyond the wheel, you find a pair of large and clearly defined intricately designed instrument panel. The machined aluminium surrounds seem to represent the same detailed design of a Breitling sports chrono.
The instrument panel is just a discrete entrée to the C70’s interior design excellence. Set your eyes on the curvaceous brushed aluminium clad centre console and you would think that you were looking at part of a Bang & Olufsen sound system. The graceful shape as I am told was inspired by the contour lines of a Gibson electric guitar.
The centre console is a case study of beauty in simplicity. Important dials for the audio system and climate control are placed prominently on the console.
Besides its design, another important element for the C70 to be considered a successful lifestyle vehicle is in its interior design. Relax Volvo, you bunch have done a splendid job on the interior too. Pull on the touch sensitive keyless entry doors and you will see that the interior oozes with a luxurious upmarket feel.
In the test car, the Calcite coloured interior with Umbra inserts complimented the Flemenco Red Pearl exterior perfectly. It gave the car a good mix of elegance and presence. Settle into the driver’s seat and you will immediately notice the comfort offered by the seats wrapped in Sovereign Hide leather. Having been in high specced BMW and Mercedes-Benz models before, the premium hide in the Volvo leaves the others waning in its wake. The leather manages to be soft and supple and when coupled with the ergonomic seats, the comfort level is unparalleled. The 11 straight tireless hours this journalist spent driving the C70 all over the island is testament to that.
The rake and reach adjustable leather-clad sports steering wheel added to the driving comfort by having just the right amount of thickness and diameter. Beyond the wheel, you find a pair of large and clearly defined intricately designed instrument panel. The machined aluminium surrounds seem to represent the same detailed design of a Breitling sports chrono.
The instrument panel is just a discrete entrée to the C70’s interior design excellence. Set your eyes on the curvaceous brushed aluminium clad centre console and you would think that you were looking at part of a Bang & Olufsen sound system. The graceful shape as I am told was inspired by the contour lines of a Gibson electric guitar.
The centre console is a case study of beauty in simplicity. Important dials for the audio system and climate control are placed prominently on the console.
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Evenly spaced and in perfect symmetry. Other buttons are concentrated in the centre to create a very clean-looking console. It is an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder individual’s wet dream come true.
The audio system in the C70 is particularly noteworthy. As an audiophile with particularly sensitive hearing, the C70 scores extremely high marks from me especially with the built in AUX-in and iPod/iPhone compatibility. The 8-speakers distributed evenly between the front and rear covers the entire sonic spectrum to such excellence that I dare say it surpasses Audi’s Symphony and BMW’s Logic 7 sound systems. Couple that with the superb sound insulation from the steel roof and you’ve got a mobile concert hall. Put the roof down and the audio system continues to produce strong beats that’ll impress anyone you drive by.
Unlike most cabriolets with decorative rear seats, this car is a true four-seater. The rear seat comfort level is equal to that of the front passengers with generous legroom even for 1.80m passengers.
Bootspace in the C70 is generous for a cabriolet. Standing at 404 litres with the roof up and 200 litres with it down. I must mention a rather nifty feature in the boot that I quite like in the C70. There’s an impression in the boot floor that allows you to hold two bottles of your favourite wine lest your 1995 Chteau Margaux gets tossed about during an enthusiastic drive. It’s a simple feature I admit but I like it.
Driving Impressions
The C70 isn’t just all show either. Powered by a robust 2.5-litre low pressure turbo, the car has 230 ponies under the hood supported by a healthy 320Nm of torque. Along with the aggressive looks, the C70 possesses a baritone exhaust note sung through its twin chrome pipes in the back. How’s that for gender neutrality?
On the highways, the 2.5-litre engine is barely ticking over while travelling at local speed limits. A slight spasm from your right foot will get you into trouble with the law very easily if you don’t keep your eye on those lovely aluminium dials.
The audio system in the C70 is particularly noteworthy. As an audiophile with particularly sensitive hearing, the C70 scores extremely high marks from me especially with the built in AUX-in and iPod/iPhone compatibility. The 8-speakers distributed evenly between the front and rear covers the entire sonic spectrum to such excellence that I dare say it surpasses Audi’s Symphony and BMW’s Logic 7 sound systems. Couple that with the superb sound insulation from the steel roof and you’ve got a mobile concert hall. Put the roof down and the audio system continues to produce strong beats that’ll impress anyone you drive by.
Unlike most cabriolets with decorative rear seats, this car is a true four-seater. The rear seat comfort level is equal to that of the front passengers with generous legroom even for 1.80m passengers.
Bootspace in the C70 is generous for a cabriolet. Standing at 404 litres with the roof up and 200 litres with it down. I must mention a rather nifty feature in the boot that I quite like in the C70. There’s an impression in the boot floor that allows you to hold two bottles of your favourite wine lest your 1995 Chteau Margaux gets tossed about during an enthusiastic drive. It’s a simple feature I admit but I like it.
Driving Impressions
The C70 isn’t just all show either. Powered by a robust 2.5-litre low pressure turbo, the car has 230 ponies under the hood supported by a healthy 320Nm of torque. Along with the aggressive looks, the C70 possesses a baritone exhaust note sung through its twin chrome pipes in the back. How’s that for gender neutrality?
On the highways, the 2.5-litre engine is barely ticking over while travelling at local speed limits. A slight spasm from your right foot will get you into trouble with the law very easily if you don’t keep your eye on those lovely aluminium dials.
Ride comfort in this cabriolet is perhaps the best I’ve ever experienced. Highway cruises in the C70 is nothing short of serene as it takes every little drop and undulation in its stride. What I was most impressed with is even when the road gets really rough, the car still manages to keep its composure. While driving along the severely potholed stretch of tarmac along Farrer Road to Queenstown, the Volvo still rolled over those undulations with grace and ease.
Conclusion
The exterior of the C70 might’ve changed but at 1.76 tons, it is still all Volvo toughness underneath. I have personally witnessed the end results of Volvo versus some Japanese make more than a few times. The Volvo always comes out on top and there was even one where the Volvo came out unscathed. Not even a scratch while the car it hit dented badly.
Being a Volvo, the car comes loaded with a plethora of safety features that are too numerous to mention within the short span of this article. But the notable ones are door mounted inflatable curtains that are effective even with the roof and windows down.
Another is the Rollover Protection system. Metal hoops shoot up from behind the rear seat headrests once activated by the gyro-sensor. If the roof is up, the hoops are fitted with spikes that will punch through the rear glass window to provide maximum occupant protection.
Even as a cabriolet, the C70 compromises little and manages to remain practical despite being marketed as a lifestyle vehicle. Sure the roof might take 30 seconds to fold and unfold and requires you to have your foot on the brake in order for it to be activated. But I feel that those are miniscule complaints if you want safety and performance in a cabriolet.
Yes, this is the first Volvo I’ve ever fallen in love with.
Conclusion
The exterior of the C70 might’ve changed but at 1.76 tons, it is still all Volvo toughness underneath. I have personally witnessed the end results of Volvo versus some Japanese make more than a few times. The Volvo always comes out on top and there was even one where the Volvo came out unscathed. Not even a scratch while the car it hit dented badly.
Being a Volvo, the car comes loaded with a plethora of safety features that are too numerous to mention within the short span of this article. But the notable ones are door mounted inflatable curtains that are effective even with the roof and windows down.
Another is the Rollover Protection system. Metal hoops shoot up from behind the rear seat headrests once activated by the gyro-sensor. If the roof is up, the hoops are fitted with spikes that will punch through the rear glass window to provide maximum occupant protection.
Even as a cabriolet, the C70 compromises little and manages to remain practical despite being marketed as a lifestyle vehicle. Sure the roof might take 30 seconds to fold and unfold and requires you to have your foot on the brake in order for it to be activated. But I feel that those are miniscule complaints if you want safety and performance in a cabriolet.
Yes, this is the first Volvo I’ve ever fallen in love with.
