Today’s Volvos are beautiful, but previous generations also had their Greta Garbos and Ingrid Bergmans. Models such as the C70 from 2006-13. Well, maybe less Greta and more Benny or Björn… Anyway, the fact remains that the C70 is a nice car with a clever folding roof which, at the top or the bottom, is well integrated. It replaced the original C70, launched in 1996. This car was available in coupe and convertible versions, while its successor is both plus a four-seater. (It’s based on a stretched version of the Ford Focus platform.)
The roof is a three-piece affair designed by Pininfarina. When raised, it considerably stiffens the body of the car. It is activated with a push of a button on the center console and should take around 30 seconds to do its job. It looks cool but one downside is that the trunk goes from 404 to 200 liters when the top is folded down.
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There are two petrol engines and four diesel engines in the range. Most exciting is the T5’s 2.5-liter, five-cylinder, 20-valve turbocharged gasoline engine. This is the same as that of the Ford Focus ST, although detuned at 227 hp. The peak torque of 236 lb-ft ranges from 1,500 rpm to 5,000 rpm, so it’s flexible too. Don’t expect fireworks, however. The C70’s 1700 kg curb weight ensures this. The other gasoline is a 168 hp non-turbocharged 2.4 five-cylinder. It is much more abundant than the T5 and is a quieter and more refined alternative to the many diesel engines available. Unfortunately, it was discontinued in 2009.
From launch, two oil burners were offered: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 134 hp and a 2.4-liter five-cylinder with 177 hp bearing the D5 badge. In 2009, the under-fueled and unrefined 2.0-liter diesel was replaced by two turbocharged engines of the same capacity but five cylinders. These are the 148 hp D3 and 174 hp D4. With 295 lb-ft of torque, the D4 is as muscular as the D5.
Diesels are powerful and economical, and exceed the number of oils by about three to one, but they are old technology, can suffer from DPF issues, and are not as pleasant to listen to as oils when the roof is down. Most engines are available with a choice of smooth six-speed manual or five-speed Geartronic automatic transmissions. The 2.0-liter diesel engine was fitted with Ford’s most impressive six-speed Powershift dual-clutch transmission.
The interior of the C70 looks sleek but clean, but it’s actually very well equipped, with cruise and temperature control, power windows, and a high-end stereo system as standard. The 16-inch and 17-inch alloy rims provide a more comfortable ride than the sportier 18s on the top-of-the-line trims and owners have been known to replace their larger alloys with them. The Sport trim has electronic stability control, while the SE has power seats and SE Lux leather seats. From 2012, LED headlights became the norm. When it comes to options to look for, the best is the wind deflector for the aft cabin. Your passengers will thank you as you cruise along the Torbay Riviera.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-24 05:01:24
