b>C70 in Paradise - the sun shines on Volvo's new C70 hardtop cabriolet
By Vince Bodiford
Automotive Editor
(HANA, Maui Island, Hawaii) - To reach the tiny village of Hana on the island of Maui by car, you'll have the divine pleasure of driving the "Hana Highway" - which is a mere sixty miles - yet it contains no fewer than six-hundred severe switchback turns and about fifty one-lane bridges. It's widely known worldwide as one of the most beautiful and challenging drives on the planet.
It was this setting and this road that we tested the all-new 2006 Volvo C70. This is the best-ever convertible from the Swedish carmaker - and easily 100% better than the last version - which with the top down, shuddered and shook like a bowl of Jell-O®.
Even so, the prior C70 had plenty of attributes. It was a handsome car that was true to its Swedish roots and it was a real cabriolet. Beyond that, I suspect it drew many newcomers to the Volvo brand. This newest, and best C70 will surely do that as well; and deliver a truly divine driving experience on so many levels. The C70 is the automotive equivalent of paradise.
What's really remarkable about the new C70 is that it's really a car with dual personalities - with the top up, it is a strikingly good-looking "hard top" coupe - and with the top down, it is a sexy, sporty convertible. Therefore, one might conclude - for the price of your new Volvo C70 hardtop coupe, you get a convertible for free. That's one heck of a deal.
Making the transition from hardtop to open top is seamless - although it takes about 28 seconds to make the transformation. The retractable hardtop folds away smoothly into the trunk in a magical dance that will itself draw attention - this top opening sequence seems more "choreographed" than engineered.
Apart from the flexibility offered by the retractable hardtop it also makes for a quieter, more comfortable coupe. The large rear window glass offers outstanding outward visibility and greatly improves body rigidity.
The three-piece hard top has some real safety benefits as well - a hallmark of the Volvo brand and a point that will surely attract even more buyers who have previously been disinterested in convertibles out of concern for safety as well as security.
Safety! Yes, now we're talking about a Volvo! An important part of the side impact and rollover protection is an inflatable curtain, IC. In the all-new Volvo C70 it has been given a unique design. The curtain has an extra stiff construction with double rows of slats that are slightly offset from each other. This allows them to remain upright and offer effective head protection even with the window open. The curtain also deflates slowly to provide protection should the car roll over. This is a unique solution in the automotive world.
The all-new Volvo C70 is designed to accommodate four real adult people. The two rear seats have comfortably angled backrests and generous width across the supportive cushions.
Like all Volvo cars, the front seats are ergonomically shaped, and in my opinion are the most comfortable seats of any car, at any price. With a push of a button on the backrest, the front seats move quickly forward to facilitate entry to the rear seat.
In the U.S. the all-new C70 comes standard with the turbocharged T5 engine. The 2.5-liter light-pressure turbocharged powerplant produces 218 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 236 lb.-ft. of torque from 1,500 to 4,800 rpm. The flat torque curve puts the power to the front wheels evenly and makes the car highly responsive - there is no noticeable torque-steer or otherwise ill behavior.
The T5 engine is extremely energy efficient. As the manifold and turbo unit are cast together in high-alloy cast steel, which is extremely resistant to heat (emission temperatures are permitted to reach 1,922°F), the need for cooling using gasoline has been minimized. The engine can therefore run on a leaner mix with lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions, particularly when driving at high speed or with a heavy load.
The T5 engine is fitted with a five-speed automatic transmission, or the six-speed manual gearbox that was developed for the Volvo S60 R and V70 R. The six gears are adapted to combine rapid acceleration with a high top speed. The gearbox has triple synchros and a very distinct gear change feel.
The "two cars for the price of one" idea extends beyond just the visual aesthetics. The driving experience is also multi-dimensional. The Volvo C70 is a car to be driven under an open sky. The softly purring engine and compliant chassis transform driving into a beautiful, harmonious experience. At the same time, the car has the potential for sporty driving thanks to its powerful, responsive driveline, rigid body and suspension tuning.
Volvo's new convertible is designed to offer a lively driving experience without sacrificing comfort. It shares its basic technology with other Volvo models, including front-wheel drive and an extremely stiff chassis. It has MacPherson front suspension and a Multilink rear axle.
The fully independent suspension is tuned to provide a combination of comfortable ride and fast, exact steering response. A broader track front and rear than other P1 based Volvos and the original C70 - and a long wheelbase - give the car high-speed stability. The chassis height has been lowered 0.3 inches up front over 0.5 inches at the rear (compared with a standard P1 chassis), which further contributes to the stable driving characteristics of the all-new C70.
As with all Volvos, anti-lock braking is standard. Additionally, DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control System) is standard and offers extra stability when driving on a slippery road surface.
Known for its dynamic driving characteristics, the P1 platform serves as a solid base for the 2006 C70. The stout chassis and stiff floor pan allow for great handling. The all-new C70's steering is electro-hydraulic with a light, distinct, controlled feeling.
The all-new C70 has Volvo's modern, advanced front structure with four different grades of steel while the side members, doors and sills have been reinforced in various ways to compensate for the lack of a fixed roof. The body structure, in the form of an smartly designed member system, not only contributes to the high level of safety in the car, it also gives the body very high torsional rigidity - twice as high as the earlier C70 model.
Thanks to the steel roof panels and bonded rear window, body rigidity is enhanced further when the top is up. The top adds 15 percent more structural rigidity over the previous C70 with its soft top.
The choice of aluminum wheels and low-profile tires enhances both the appearance and the driving experience. In the US, the car comes standard with a 7.5x17-inch, 14-spoke aluminum wheel with a 235/45-17 tire
There is a choice of two 8.0x18-inch aluminum wheels with 235/40-18 tires. The one-piece design is available as a factory option, and the two-piece as a retailer installed option.
When it comes to a nearly perfect audio experience, the all-new Volvo C70 again delivers twice as much audio range - as it's both a concert hall and an outdoor arena. The sound system has been developed to offer high-class sound reproduction with the roof up or down.
With the all-new C70, Volvo Cars is launching a high-end digital amplifier and, following intense collaboration with Dynaudio®, a speaker system that will leave even the most critical audiophile happy.
"A car represents one of the most difficult challenges for an audio engineer," says C70 project manager Patrik Widerstrand. The passenger compartment has irregular shapes, a mixture of hard and soft materials and considerable variation in surface structures.
In addition, the road surface changes as you are driving. In a convertible the situation is further complicated by the fact that the top is sometimes up and sometimes down.
In the all-new C70, Volvo Cars has invested in the latest digital technology to control and adapt sound reproduction to the most challenging conditions. "The aim has been to offer a first-rate audio experience which remains consistent regardless of where or how you drive," said Widerstrand.
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology is used to adapt the sound to the design of the passenger compartment and the positioning of the speakers. DSP is also used for the fine adjustment of the tone curve, contributing to the creation of natural sound quality.
With the launch of the all-new Volvo C70, Volvo Cars will introduce a digital class D amplifier that is considerably more efficient than its analog equivalent. For example, a digital amplifier that produces 130 watts requires less power to operate than an analog equivalent of 100 watts. A digital amplifier is also more compact and generates less heat than an analog unit.
Thanks to digital technology, the sound can be adapted to the driving situation. Not only the volume but also the tone settings are adjusted automatically in line with the car's speed. The sound is also adjusted automatically when the car's roof is up or down to ensure that the listener gets the same exceptional audio experience regardless of ambient conditions.
There is also scope for individual preferences. In the car's personal settings menu it is possible to choose how much the sound should be adjusted according to vehicle speed. There are three levels to choose from: low, medium and high.
There are two sound system levels available for the 2006 Volvo C70:
The standard high performance system features a 4x40-watt amplifier and eight speakers; and the Dynaudio Premium Sound includes a 5x130-watt digital amplifier, Dolby® Pro Logic II Surround and fourteen speakers, including dual 9-inch subwoofers.
Each subwoofer has an integrated 130-watt amplifier. In total, the Premium Sound system with double subwoofers has an output of 910 watts of power.
"A sound system of Premium Sound rating is indicated by the Dynaudio® logo on the dashboard," said Widerstrand. "It is a sign that the car is equipped with the very best speakers."
Dynaudio® is one of the world's foremost developers and manufacturers of speaker systems, both for home use and professional studios. The company has received a whole series of awards for its products, which are developed according to extremely strict quality demands.
With the launch of the all-new Volvo C70, cooperation between Volvo Cars and Dynaudio® has been extensive. The Premium Sound speakers in the C70 are of extremely high quality for a mass-produced car.
In the doors there are well-proportioned three-way speakers. The bass drivers are 8 inches with powerful 3-inch voice coils that can withstand high output. Even the midrange drivers have powerful voice coils. The tweeters are made of fabric (silk dome tweeter), a Dynaudio® specialty that helps produce a cleaner sound.
Each speaker has a passive crossover to produce a harmonious, total audio experience with the best possible bandwidth and dynamics.
Specially developed center speakers on the dashboard interact with the door speakers to create a natural, homogeneous sound. The rear side panels have combined bass/midrange drivers. Even these have powerful voice coils and the same type of tweeters that are found in the front doors.
To achieve even deeper, richer bass tones, the system is complemented with dual 9-inch subwoofers, mounted in the wall behind the rear backrest. These have separate class D amplifiers, each producing 130 watts.
"It is certainly no exaggeration to use the term 'concert-hall quality' for the sound reproduction in the all-new Volvo C70," said Widerstrand. "We can offer what is the best audio experience ever in a Volvo regardless of whether the roof is up or down."
Taken together - open top and coupe; concert hall and outdoor arena; comfortable tourer and sporty head-turner - the new C70 might therefore really be six cars in one. Drive one for yourself, and you just might agree.
With global annual sales projected at 16,000 unites, the Volvo Car Corporation is highly optimistic of the all-new C70's success. In the U.S. sales are expected to account for fifty-percent of the global volume or approximately 8,000 units annually.
RIVALS: Audi A4 Cabriolet, BMW 3-Series convertible, Saab 9-3 convertible.
PRICING: MSRP (estimated) $38,710; Destination: $695.
HIGHS: Spectacular package offering "many cars in one," that's sweet to look at and sweeter to drive.
LOWS: Drop me a note if you come across any, because I sure didn't.
For More Information: Visit www.volvocars.com
To explore the island of Maui and experience the wonder of "old Hawaii" and the Hana Highway, we highly recommend the Hotel Hana-Maui.
LIFE'S A TRIP - Enjoy the drive. Be a safe and courteous driver, obey all highway laws, never drive impaired and buckle everyone up. Copyright © 2006 The Weekend Drive, All Rights Reserved
