Volvo C70

[Plex]

You might not think it, and you�ll have a job to get Volvo to admit it, but underneath their latest C70 you�ll find a few shared parts with parent company Ford�s best selling Focus hatchback.

Not that you�d know by looking at it, the C70 being about as far removed from a family hatchback as possible.



Indeed, it�s perhaps the best example of Volvo�s current style, the broad hip line softened but still obvious, it carrying across the bonnet and front wing top to the slightly pronounced grille. Combined with the roof�s long, low line the C70 manages the odd trick of looking Volvo chunky yet sveltely desirable at the same time. And that�s before it transforms itself into a convertible at the touch of a button. With its new C70 Volvo�s taken the coupe cabriolet route that�s reignited interest in smaller mainstream cabriolets. In applying it to the premium four-seater market they�ve given the C70 real appeal over rivals that offer their cabriolets with fabric between you and the sky. They�ve taken the cabrio or coupe choice out of the showroom, allowing you to change your mind on a daily basis. Expect its rivals to follow its lead.



What�s impressive too is that Volvo has managed to produce their four-seater folding hardtop without blighting the styling with the fat bottomed look of so many mainstream coupe cabriolets. Volvo claims it styled the C70 first as a coupe and made the necessary alterations to make it a convertible afterwards. Watching the triple action folding mechanism in action there�s no reason to doubt this, the large roof stowing itself away under the boot lid to leave a very nicely proportioned convertible. Bootspace obviously suffers dramatically when the roof�s doing its contortionist act, but in this class who really cares? Impressive as the styling and roof mechanism is the C70 needs to drive well to succeed in a class that contains rivals like the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Saab 9-3.

Here, the previous car failed significantly; for all its good looks it simply couldn�t match rivals on the road. That, and the scuttle shake on the convertible was terrible. That�s gone, the C70 feeling at least as stiff as its key rivals, with little trace of a lack of rigidity in its structure. And that�s key to the dynamic improvements, the suspension having a solid basis to work from � to good effect. And while the C70 is never going to have you aching to drive it like you may a BMW 3 Series you�ll undoubtedly be impressed by its all round composure - even when you�re in a bit of a hurry.

Engine & gears
Here the range-topping 2.5-litre turbocharged T5 engine assists ably, its maximum torque of 320Nm delivered across a broad 1,500-4,800rpm rev band. Inevitably with 220bhp going through the front wheels there�s potential for some corruption through the steering and the wheel will squirm in your hands lightly as the electronics balance power with available traction, but it�s not intrusive and switch off the standard DTSC and you�ll soon realise just how much work it�s been doing. And it�s quick, deceptively so in T5 guise, with it always going a bit faster than you�d perhaps expected. Official figures claim a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds, but really it�s in the mid-range where the Volvo produces its best.

It�s this that makes it such an accomplished fast cruiser. The assured handling, decent ride, slick manual gearbox (an auto is offered but the manual�s the one to have here) and decent refinement make it a comfortable long distance machine. Indeed, if anything hood down the engine�s just not loud enough, the wind noise silencing the rousing growly five-cylinder. Hood up it�s more obvious, but never intrusive.



Inside
Space and comfort inside is also decent. Rear seat passengers aren�t overly generously accommodated, but it�s good enough for short journeys roof up or down. Up front the smart �floating� central console borrowed from the S40 and V50 models is both attractive and functional. The remaining instrumentation is all conveniently laid out in Volvo�s typical, simple style. Materials too feel of a quality befitting it�s premium status, and with the availability of equipment like the Dynaudio stereo as standard on the SE Lux model, as well as all the latest safety equipment you�d expect from a Volvo the C70 is perhaps the most complete package currently available.