Not since the famous P1800 sports car of the '60s has "sexy" described a Volvo, but that changed with the introduction of the C70 coupe. According to Peter Horbury, Volvo's chief designer, the C70 is "not the Volvo you need. It is the Volvo you want." Indeed, the C70 represents the biggest step in Volvo's efforts to shed a stodgy image. The C70 is a joint venture of Volvo and TWR, a British specialty-engineering firm. Its makers are quick to point out that the C70 has not in any way compromised Volvo's commitment to occupant safety. Volvo considers the U.S. the C70's primary market, although it will also be sold in Europe and Japan. The C70 begins a new model-naming convention for Volvo: "C" denotes coupe, while "70" represents the car's relative position in the company's product line.
The 1998 Volvo C70 coupe is available in two trims: C70 coupe and convertible. The C70 has numerous safety features, including dual front airbags, dual side airbags, an anti-lock brake system (ABS), optional traction control, and side-impact protection. Powering the sleek, new convertible is a 2.4-liter 190-horsepower light-pressure turbocharged 5-cylinder engine, while the coupe gets a more powerful 2.3-liter engine producing 236 horsepower. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on the coupe, with a 4-speed automatic for the convertible. Standard features include dual climate controls, a power sunroof (coupe), alloy wheels, and a high-powered AM/FM stereo system with cassette, CD player, and ten speakers. The convertible features an insulated, fully automatic electric top and a rollover protection system.}