Volvo C70 1999 User Manual

Volvo Car Corporation

Press Information

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

Press Information

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.