Summer is here and so is the desire to get rid of my winter-infused white skin tone. It’s time to cut loose and get fancy-free with the wind in my hair, and the sun’s warmth on my skin as I cruise from meeting to meeting. At the same time, having the confidence of knowing you are driving a vehicle from a manufacturer with a reputation for providing the highest levels of safety, just helps make the ride much more enjoyable. Where can you find this combination of characteristics? Try the 2012 Volvo C70.
The 2012 Volvo C70 is a beautiful luxury hardtop convertible with flowing lines. With the push of a button, in just 30-seconds, the C70 transforms from the safety of a hardtop coupe to an open-air convertible. The C70 seats four in luxury and comfort.
What’s new for 2012 includes Bluetooth with audio streaming capability, a new smartphone application featuring concierge, and available LED daytime running lights. The 2012 C70 comes in one model, T5 ($40,450), and five major packages: Climate Package ($1,000), Dynamic Package ($1,000), Inscription Package ($3,900), Platinum Package ($3,600) and Premier Plus Package ($1,000).
The three-piece C70 coupe roofline was developed in Italy by Pininfarina. The profile of the C70 reflects the aggressive styling of a coupe. Sweeping A-pillars, flowing lines, and enlarged wheel-wells create a strong presence. With the top down, the silhouette morphs into a stylish up-scale roadster. The rear shoulders cascade into the tail lights and raise up to meet the truck lid, adding an up-scale image.
The interior is handsome and dressed in high-quality fabrics. The cabin features ergonomically designed front bucket seats that are extremely comfortable. They slide forward with the touch of a button to ease the entry and exiting of occupants to the rear seats, which accommodate two passengers.
The dash and instrument panel are clean and simple to use. A navigation screen rises up from the center of the dash. The C70 has Volvo’s flat-panel center stack that is extremely thin and has a small storage area behind it. The C70 has lockable storage compartments in the cabin area, which are quite beneficial when the top is down.
The 2012 Volvo C70 is made for highway cruising verses high performance. My guess is that the C70 is catering to the more conservative driver looking for style, luxury, and safety. It doesn’t accelerate as quickly as say, a BMW 3-series convertible; however, at freeway speeds it purrs just fine. Handling is light and confident with precise electric power steering.
The 2012 C70 is front-wheel drive and is powered by the proven 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine that delivers 227 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque on the T5 model. The Inscription trim package boosts the horsepower to 250 and torque to 273 lb-ft. Both versions of the 2.5-liter engine are mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. (It surprises me that the C70 hasn’t upgraded to at least a six-speed automatic transmission which would help increase its fuel mileage).
Room for improvement:
- The performance could be somewhat enhanced
Cool Features:
- Smart Key feature
- Rollover Protection System with pop-up roll bar
- Side mirrors automatically fold in when car is turned off
The standard safety equipment for the 2012 Volvo C70 includes: front airbags, side airbags in front, and head-protection air curtains that activate upward from the doors even with the windows rolled down. Electronic stability control with traction control, antilock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake Assistance, and a tire-pressure monitoring system, rounds out these features. Volvo offers an optional blind-spot information warning system and rear park assist.
In Summary – The 2012 Volvo C70 is a beautifully crafted car delivering the duel convenience of being a hardtop coupe and a luxury convertible. There may be other vehicles faster off the line, but if that isn’t a concern for you, then I suspect you will be happy with the acceleration of the C70. The C70 is quiet, comfortable, and very sophisticated. Inside and out the C70 is built with high-quality materials including aluminum trim and sculpted wood. You won’t find another convertible in its class that can compete with the variety of safety features equipped in the C70.
Specifications
2012 Volvo C70 Inscription
Base price: $40,450 as driven: $51,570 (including destination and optional packages)
Engine: 2.5-Liter 5 cylinder turbocharged
Horsepower: 250 @ 5000
Torque: 273 foot pounds @ 1500-4800
Transmission: 5-Speed Automatic
Drive: Front-Wheel Drive
Seating: 4-passenger
Turning circle: 38.7 feet
Cargo space: 12.8 cubic feet
Curb weight: 3,627 pounds
Fuel capacity: 16.4 gallons
EPA mileage: City 18 / Highway 28
Wheel Base: 103.9 inches
Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper
Also consider: Acura TT, BMW 3-Series, Lexus IS, and Volkswagen Eos
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