Volvo C70 convertible Owner's manual

Volvo Car Corporation
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Volvo C70 convertible - the European head turner this summer
This spring, the sky becomes the limit for the Volvo car buyers when the Volvo
C70 convertible makes its European debut.
Volvo's target is to sell between 2,500 and 3,000 convertibles in Europe during
1999 with sales starting in June.
The Volvo C70 convertible will be sold in 14 European countries this year - with
Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Holland and France as the
expected top markets.
"It's no secret that it has taken us longer than planned to make the Volvo C70 convertible
available to the European customers. So far, the convertible has only been available in
the USA, but this spring theUddevalla plant has gained enough capacity to make it
available in Europe, too", says Bo Annvik, head of marketing at Volvo Cars Market Area
Europe.
He adds:
"The Volvo C70 convertible is definitely worth waiting for. The true convertible owner
expects a comfortable car with lots of flair as well as well as a powerful image. The C70
has it all. Very attractive and distinctive design, exiting and comfortable handling, plenty
of room for four adults and a boot which swallows a couple of golf bags. Plus first class
safety systems which makes it a true Volvo."
" It is, of course, not a high volume car. Bu we are convinced that our convertible will be
one of the top head turners in the European traffic this summer."
New target groups
The Volvo C70 convertible is an important asset in Volvo's quest for new target groups,
people who earlier couldn't find what they were looking for in the Volvo range. Open
cars also attract a higher share of female buyers.
"By adding the coupe and now the convertible to the Volvo range we have attracted a
growing interest from new customer groups. Many of
them have never owned a Volvo
before", says Bo Annvik.

"The power and the sheer driving pleasure of the Volvo C70 coupe. Or the beauty and
comfort of the Volvo C70 convertible. Well, it might not be the cars you need, but is
definitely the cars that you desire..."
990501 HÅ

Volvo Car Corporation
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Volvo C70 convertible - a historical design challenge
For the first time ever, Volvo's design department has tackled the delicate
challenge to create a convertible.
It is 40 years since Volvo last produced an open car and it was not designed
within the company.
The Volvo C70 convertible, on the other hand, was designed under the
leadership of Volvo's design director Peter Horbury.
The first open Volvo, known as the O
V4, was produced in 1927 and was largely the
work of the artist
Helmer Mas-0lle ,
who presented a number of proposals for the way
the first series-manufactured cars should be designed.
The second open Volvo, the Volvo Sport from 1956, had a body made of plastic
. The car
was designed by the US company
Glasspar, which pioneered fibreglass car bodies and
boat hulls.
So the production of the Volvo C70 convertible was historical - and a challenge that was
very much out of the ordinary for Volvo's design department.
In principle, the assignment was formulated as four requests:
Create plenty of room for four adults in a car that looks like a two-seater
Make sure the car is equally attractive with the soft top up or down
No bulky soft top above the bodywork
Clear, elegant lines, just like the
coupé model
Just as in the development of the C70 coupé , it
was a question of creating a car customers
want rather than a car they need.
Horbury's team designed both the C70
coupé
and the C70 convertible at the same time to
obtain total harmony between their designs. The C70 convertible imposed perhaps even
greater demands when it came to the genuine cohesion of the lines, as the vital design
element of the roof is missing.
New image calls for new lines
The Volvo C70 coupé
and convertible have been created to expand Volvo's business by
attracting new customers, customers who have not been reached by previous Volvo
models.

For this reason, both the C70 models have to be seen as totally new cars. Modified
versions of the Volvo 850 would have made people think of previous Volvo coupés, like
the 262 or 780, both of which were unmistakable two-door versions of saloons.
However, a four-seater car which gives the impression of being a two-seater dramatically
modifies that image. The C70 is sporty, elegant and different, while refining the identity
of the Volvo brand name at the same time; a number of striking features, a mixture of
innovation and tradition.
The bonnet is a fine example of the way the family affiliation is underlined. It is a perfect
match for the C70's shape and lines and blends in elegantly with the new language of
design. At the same time, it has an unmistakable Volvo look as a result of its upright
grille.
Even if the Volvo C70 differs from other Volvo cars in every other respect, the
resemblance can most definitely be seen in the front section.
Open cars step up the design requirements
An open car like the Volvo C70 convertible must have a design which produces soft,
clean lines with the soft top up and which does not create an impersonal impression with
it down.
Anyone looking at the Volvo C70 convertible will immediately see how this is
counteracted by the positive line across the body which "raises" the rear.
A gentle curvature makes the car appear to "lift" behind the door, without being too high.
This has the opposite effect to the appearance of a flat bath tub.
The design makes effective use of the "hips" which convey an impression of tense
muscles and forward movement. A great deal of the power and inherent energy of the car
is gathered in the rear section, the muscles around the rear wheels.
This is important as it is these parts of the car which are responsible for a great deal of
the visual impression created by an open car, as it has no roof and rear roof pillars. A soft
top does not have the same ability as a roof to hold a design together. It is up to the rear
of the car to convey the feeling of power and movement.
Scandinavian character
Inside, the C70 is characterised by its Scandinavian design heritage. The interior radiates
a sense of elegant simplicity, top-class quality and functionality. The aim has been to
create harmony and balance between the interior and exterior.
The lines are clean and the overall design is uncomplicated. Fine quality in every
material. The idea is that everything should be pleasant to touch, while creating a sense
of beauty and elegance at the same time. The leather is superb and many of the interior
colour schemes are light - with darker alternatives for people who prefer them.

To extend the range of choice still further, the soft top comes in a number of colours to
match the exterior paintwork.
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Volvo Car Corporation
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Volvo C70 convertible - a new safety dimension for open cars
The Volvo C70 convertible is very definitely also a car for our sixth sense -
common sense.
It sets a new safety standard for open cars, by being the first car on the
convertible market with automatic seatbelt pretensioners on all four seats,
for example.
The Volvo C70 convertible has a structure which is based on the Volvo S70 and has
basically the same safety features, with the same high level of safety in frontal, rear and
side impacts.
However, for natural reasons, roll-overs are the greatest challenge when it comes to the
safety design of an open car. One or more systems have to take over the supporting
function performed by the roof.
In the Volvo C70 convertible, the A-pillars and windscreen frame are reinforced with
special steel and, in combination with the automatic roll-over hoops at the rear, they
provide top-class protection if the car turns over.
This system is known as ROPS, Roll Over Protection System.
The roll-over hoops are concealed behind the standard head restraints. They are activated
if the car turns over. A special sensor ensures that these hoops shoot up above head
height. At the front, the strong A-pillars and windscreen frame function as a roll-over
hoop.
Four pretensioners
The ROPS
system also includes four seatbelt pretensioners which are activated by the
same sensor which triggers the front airbags. This sensor is situated in the centre console
between the front seats.
All the belt pretensioners are pyrotechnical. A powder charge pulls a wire which then
tightens the belt on the reel. The pretensioner is located next to the reel.
By tightening the belt at lighting speed in an accident, the pretensioner eliminates slack
in the belt. If the car rolls over, it is naturally very important that the occupants are held
firmly in place in their seats.
ROPS
is part of the Volvo C70 convertible's total protection system, which also includes
a powerful basic structure, one or two front airbags, the SIPS side impact protection
system with its associated SIPS bags, and the new Whiplash Protection System, WHIPS.

Protective horseshoe and new side airbags
The SIPS system functions in the same way as it does in other models, but its appearance
differs. As the roof is included in the SIPS system in other Volvo cars, different design
solutions have to be used to do the corresponding work in the convertible. As a result, the
structure round the passenger compartment is shaped like a horseshoe and absorbs and
dissipates the collision energy very effectively.
The Volvo C70 convertible is equipped with the new second-generation side airbag, the
SIPS bag. This is larger than the previous bag and protects both the chest and head.
The SIPS bag is fitted in the outer edge of the front-seat backrest and has long been
standard on all Volvo models. Since it is integrated in the seat, the side airbag is always
beside the occupant regardless of how the seat is adjusted, thus ensuring optimum
protection.
The original purpose of the side airbag was to reduce the risk of chest and abdominal
injuries by providing a cushion between the occupant and the intruding car side.
The new airbag, which offers extended protection, is really two in one. A lower section
still protects the chest and abdomen while a new upper section protects the head in most
types of side impacts.
Thanks to the electronic sensors, the system provides an precise activating of the SIPS
bag in different types of side impacts. The lower section is inflated after a hundredth of a
second and the upper section after just over two hundredths of a second.
New whiplash protection system
Volvo has developed a new car seat which is designed to reduce the injuries from year-
end collisions at low and moderate speeds. The WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System)
seats were introduced in the Volvo S80 last year and they are now a standard feature in
both front seats in all Volvo models, including the C70 convertible.
The WHIPS seat is activated when the occupant is forced back against the backrest and
head restraint in rear impact.
The entire upper body and head is cushioned in a balanced, gentle manner as the backrest
and head restraint move backwards in a parallel movement in this way, the distance
between the head and head restraint is kept as short as possible. This is highly important,
as the risk of a whiplash injury is reduced if the head movement is minimised.
When the initial cushioning process is complete, the backrest is tipped backwards while
absorbing energy to enable the body to continue being cushioned in a balanced manner.
This also reduces the forward rebound which takes place in the end of the collision.

The design work has focues on minimising three things. The first is the collision pulse to
which the occupant is subjected, the second is movements in the spine and the third is the
forward rebound. Three vital areas in the aim to reduce the whiplash problem.
Basic safety principle
The basic principle for the safety level of open cars was established back in the 1950s,
when the open car known as the Volvo Sport was planned.
"If Volvo is going to build an open car, it has to be safe."
The fact that the Volvo C70 convertible is the modern response to this challenge can be
seen here. Flair, comfort and driving pleasure in an elegant, safe packaging.
990501 HA /AN

Volvo Car Corporation
Press Information
A Volvo
C70 convertible - a special listening experience
The Volvo C70
coupé and convertible are equipped with one of the most
advanced and sophisticated factory-fitted, in-car audio system on the
market.
Right back at the concept stage, it was decided that the C70 was to be a
rolling concert hall and the audio features were incorporated as part of the
complete car.
For accessibility and quality reasons, the best solution is to fit an advanced audio system
when the car is built.
The C70 convertible is equipped with no fewer than ten loudspeakers of different types
in the standard version. Anyone who so wishes can specify a package with 12 or 13
speakers as an option.
These speakers have been specially developed, adapted and positioned to match the car
perfectly both acoustically and mechanically. At the same time, they have also been
adapted to one another to produce the best possible results with uniform frequency and
low distortion.
The loudspeakers have been developed in collaboration with Danish Dynaudio, one of
the world's leading companies in the hi-fi field.
Dual three-way system can be heard and felt
The loudspeaker system in the Volvo C70 convertible has the following design. A three-
way system is used at both the front and rear. At the front, there are two 8" woofers, two
4" mid-range speakers and two 1" tweeters to produce a clean sound with a wide
frequency range.
At the rear, there are two 6.5" bass/mid-range speakers and two tweeters. Two 9" bass
speakers - also known as sub-woofers - can be specified as an option.
These large sub-woofers can be mutes by rear-seat passengers as the sub-woofers are
positioned behind the backrest. So it is a question of feeling the sound as much as
hearing it in the convertible's rear seat.
High performance in terms of sound as well
However, these speakers cannot achieve anything on their own. They have to be fed by
amplifiers, radios and other sources of sound.

The signals reach the speakers via an amplifier of either 4 x 60 W or 4 x 100 W. Both
types are characterised by high voltage capacity, low interference and wide dynamic
range. A high output calls for first-class components.
The radio section features Volvo's unique, easy-to-operate big front radio with its theft-
protection code and complies with all Volvo's requirements in areas such as safety,
ergonomics, design, quality and reliability.
The radio section features an advanced RDS tuner. It has a built-in CD changer for one
or three discs, depending on equipment level.
The RDS radio automatically adjusts the tone curve to suit the car in which it is fitted and
the position of the soft top - in other words, whether it is up or down. The volume control
is automatically adjusted to the speed; the volume increases as the speed rises. The tone
curve is also speed controlled.
Optional equipment includes a CD changer with room for six discs with an elegant
concealed location in the luggage compartment and a remote control unit is available as
an accessory.
Surrounded by music
Another exciting option involves extending the radio section with a world first in a car, a
Dolby Surround ProLogic system. With this system installed, the C70 can compete
with any live concert.
The system produces a highly sophisticated level of sound reproduction with natural
soundstage and will satisfy even the most demanding hi-fi enthusiast with its sound
quality.
It is up to the customer to decide whether Bruce Springsteen, Bela
Bartok or an
Argentinian tango fills the car. Volvo has created the optimal conditions to ensure that
the sound experience is as complete as it can possibly be. A sensation for the senses.
Dolby and ProLogic
are registered trademarks belonging to Dolby Laboratories.
990501HÅ /AN

Volvo Car Corporation
Press Information
Volvo C70 convertible - a car for all six senses
The Volvo C70 convertible is a car for all the senses.
Sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste are all stimulated to a very high
degree by the first convertible Volvo has produced for 40 years.
What is more, the Volvo C70 convertible is one of the few open cars
which appeals to the sixth sense - common sense.
Using a combination of in-depth competitor analyses and customer surveys in countries
including the USA and Germany, Volvo has created a picture of the properties that are
required to attract the modern and demanding people who buy exclusive open cars.
People who drive open cars have no wish to conceal themselves inside a discreet car
body. They want a comfortable car, full of flair, with a powerful image. As a result, the
choice of colour is often daring and the list of individual options is comprehensive.
When it comes to convertible owners, the number of women is relatively high, but male
customers are in a majority, just as they are among coupe purchasers.
The Volvo C70 convertible has been designed and developed to offer flair, comfort and
driving pleasure in an elegant package, which matches Volvo's safety standards and
traditions.
The Volvo C70 convertible was introduced at the Detroit Auto Show at the beginning of
1997. Sales started in North America at the beginning of 1998 and from this spring the
convertible is available for European car buyers. Production is taking place alongside
that of the C70 coupe in Uddevalla.
A car for all the senses - including common sense.
The sense of sight
In terms of design, the powerful, cohesive lines of the car are reminiscent of the C70
coupe. This open car has its own special personality and yet, at the same time, its Volvo
identity is underlined by a number of specific characteristics.
An open car like the Volvo C70 convertible must have a shape and a sufficiently large
number of lines to ensure that it does not become impersonal with the soft top down.
Volvo's design director Peter Horbury and his team have tackled and overcome this
challenge by introducing lines which raise the rear of the car in a distinct yet balanced
manner. This gives the car a dynamic and muscular character.
The Volvo C70 convertible gives the impression of being a two-seater, even though it
has room for four adults with a wide and inviting entrance to the rear seat.

The sense of touch and smell
The interior of the car is characterised by Scandinavian design. Light colours and
elegant, clean lines and form create a feeling of genuine quality, especially to the touch.
The choice when it comes to materials and colours is impressive. Two new colours,
Venetian Red and Moondust, and a new dashboard inlay known as black marble effect,
are introduced this year.
Mother Nature's fragrances on a warm day with the top down, combined with the special
scent of the leather upholstery, make the Volvo C70 convertible a wonderful experience
for the sense of smell as well.
The soft top is fully automatic. It is operated and locked in place with one press of a
button. There are no hooks, no attachments - and no manual work requiring strong
wrists. When it is folded down, the soft top is concealed behind the rear seat. The
electrically-heated rear window is made of glass.
The soft top comes in four colours to match the paintwork and is hardwearing, quiet and
windproof. A windblocker which can be fitted behind the front seats is optional.
The climate unit is flexible. With the soft top up, it is fully automatic. When the soft top
is folded down, the unit changes to manual operation, as the sensors are unable to
measure and regulate the temperature.
The sense of hearing
Like the Volvo C70 coupe, the Volvo C70 convertible has what is probably the most
sophisticated audio system on the market.
This system is an important and integrated part of the total experience. For quality
reasons, the loudspeakers are fitted at the factory. Their position and size have been
carefully chosen to enhance the sound experience to concert level, to do complete justice
to every kind of music, no matter whether it is hard rock or the world-famous Vienna
Boys' Choir.
Ten loudspeakers are standard. A package with 12 or 13 speakers is available as an
option. These speakers have been developed in collaboration with Danish Dynaudio, one
of the world's best-known companies in this field. The radio section features an RDS
tuner and an integrated CD changer for three discs. The tone curve is adapted
automatically, depending on whether the soft top is up or down.
The Volvo C70 convertible can also be equipped with a Dolby Surround ProLogic
system, which produces a highly sophisticated level of sound reproduction with an "all-
round-experience".
The sense of taste

A number of comfort features give the owner a taste for the good life. Open or covered.
With or without passengers. Regardless of the situation, the Volvo C70 convertible offers
the kind of comfort and driving pleasure that is truly out of the ordinary.
The Volvo C70 convertible is introduced in Europe with a range of five-cylinder turbo
engines: the 2.5-litre light-pressure turbo engine with an output of 193 bhp and the 2.3-
litre turbo with 240 bhp. In certain markets, the convertible is also available with 2.0-litre
turbos (163 or 225 bhp).
When the chassis was developed, the emphasis was placed on comfort, with well-
preserved characteristics when it comes to driving and road performance. There are three
different chassis settings: a comfort chassis, a dynamic chassis and an optional low
dynamics chassis.
The STC (Stability and Traction Control) stability system, which prevents the driving
wheels spinning when starting, accelerating and driving, is available for the convertible.
The Volvo C70 convertible has the following tyres/wheels: 225/55 x 16" as standard on
the 193 bhp, light pressure turbo version, 17" wheels are standard on the 240 bhp turbo.
18" wheels are available as option.
The wheels and tyres help to create the comfortable and dynamic overall picture. The
customer's personal taste determines the choice, just as it does with the engine and
chassis settings. The common denominator when it comes to every alternative is that it
has been carefully tested to ensure that it functions, regardless of the combination.
The sixth sense - common sense
The Volvo C70 convertible is very definitely also a car for our sixth sense - common
sense. It has set a new safety standard for open cars, by being the first car on the
convertible market with automatic seatbelt pretensioners on all four seats, for example.
The Volvo C70 convertible has a structure which is based on the Volvo S70 and has
basically the same safety features, with the same high level of safety in frontal. rear and
side impacts.
The convertible is now equipped with the new second-generation side airbag, the SIPS
bag. This is larger than the previous bag and protects both the chest and head.
WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), the front seat which actively counteracts whiplash
injuries in rear-end collisions by cushioning the body in a soft, controlled movement, is
also standard equipment.
For natural reasons, roll-overs are the greatest challenge when it comes to the safety
design of an open car. One or more systems have to take over the supporting function
performed by the roof.

In the Volvo C70 convertible, the A-pillars and windscreen frame are reinforced with
high-strength steel and, in combination with the automatic roll-over hoops at the rear,
they provide top-class protection if the car turns over. The roll-over hoops are concealed
behind the standard head restraints. They are activated if the car turns over. A special
sensor ensures that these hoops shoot up above head height.
This system is known as
ROPS, Roll Over Protection System.
Dolby and ProLogic are registered trademarks belonging to Dolby Laboratories.
990501 HA /AN

Volvo Car Corporation
Press Information
Volvo C70 coupe - now with naturally-aspirated engine
Buyers of the Volvo C70 coupe can now choose another engine alternative.
The five-cylinder turbocharged engines are being joined by a five-cylinder,
naturally-aspirated engine.
The 2,5-litre, 165-bhp engine has been available to car buyers since early spring. In June it
will be replaced by a new and revised 2,4-litre version with 170 bhp and a maximum
torque of 230 Nm.
This engine, just like its predecessor, is a member of Volvo's five-cylinder engine family
and is being produced at the engine plant in
Skövde in Sweden.
The revised engines have several advantages:
•

Higher torque in the lower part of the engine speed range gives normal motorists a
more

lively car
•

Lighter crankshaft movements and reduced friction between the moving parts of the
engine result in quieter operation
•

A number of new technical design solutions help to reduce fuel consumption by up to 8
per cent
•

Lower emissions
Same chassis and wheels
The basic version of the latest coupe has the same chassis and wheels as the 2.5-litre
version with a light-pressure turbocharger.
With acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds (manual) and a top speed of 215 km/h,
this 170 bhp engine also guarantees the dynamic driving pleasure which characterises the
Volvo C70 coupe.
The Volvo C70 coupe is also available with:
a five-cylinder, 2.3-litre turbocharged engine with an output of 240 bhp and maximum
torque of 330 Nm
a five-cylinder, 2.5-litre engine with a light-pressure turbocharger, an output of 193 bhp
and maximum torque of 270 Nm
In certain markets, the coupe is also available with 2.0-litre
turbos (163 or 225 bhp).
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