Volvo C70 Inscription
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© Volvo
The Basics
- Price: $44,350
- 0-60 time: 7.4 secs
- MPG / LPG: 18/28 (US) City/Highway
74 The AskMen Take
It seems the days of the topless Swede will soon be a thing of the past. Not as the result of a recession-induced exposure tax or hot tub shortage in the pine-strewn climbs of Scandinavia, thankfully, but in automotive terms.
Volvo broke the mold with the C70 as the world’s first four-seater convertible with a three-piece folding hard-top, but it seems the increasing stylish European brand, now under Chinese ownership, will be putting that mold in long-term storage by 2013 as the C70 winds up production. And with Saab having bitten the dust too now, gloriously exposed Swedes will be an increasingly rare sight.
As a parting shot, we test the latest and last hurrah in the form of the limited-edition Inscription C70 -- limited to 2,000 worldwide. Available on both sides of the pond for a premium, it assumes the finest in upholstery and signature twists but is tailored to more localized tastes when it comes to what’s plumbed in under its svelte hood, confirming that one size, more often than not, doesn’t fit all.
68 Performance
More an exercise in design rather than performance pimping, the C70 Inscription is no street-racing benchmark -- but it’d be a fine bench from which to watch some street racing from. In the States, it takes the 2.5-liter turbo gas unit -- chipped by in-house racing gurus Polestar -- that generates 250 hp and a characterful five-cylinder roar. But in the UK and Europe, diesel is the order of the day, and so it comes with the choice of the frugal 150 hp D3 or the slightly pokier D4 that delivers 177 hp and an extra helping of torque.
Ultimately, the less-than-sporty C70 Inscription works equally well with both gas and diesel installations, as the ride and handling suits smooth cruising over anything more hurried or aggressive.
Placatory suspension, steering and casual gearing convince you with remarkable effectiveness to take things easy in the driving seat. Even with the roof down, the C70’s silky aerodynamics create unruffled, stress-free progress that suits the car’s effortless aesthetic to a tee.
79 Design
An undeniably handsome ride, the C70 has always carved a niche as a well-proportioned and brilliantly designed hard-top convertible. While other manufacturers struggle with containing unwelcome J-Lo-esque rear ends, the C70’s clean lines and intelligent packaging means it has never suffered that problem.
It’s never sold in vast numbers, as it's a pretty niche car within a (globally speaking) niche brand, but that’s always kept the C70 just a little more special than it ever truly has the right to be. But spend any length of time inside a C70, and the high levels of comfort and well-molded materials will challenge anyone to question that assumed lack of "specialness."
This limited Inscription edition plays on that inherent exclusivity, too. The dash and deeply ergonomic seats come in a unique range of Sovereign hides, the steering wheel and gear-shift knob are inlaid with cool-to-the-touch aluminum and the Inscription motive is embossed in the headrests and carpets.
Externally, the mods include special high-gloss paint on the grille and chrome flashing to the LEDs. It's available in just black or white to keep the palette as clean as the car’s lines, and the finishing touch includes an impressive set of unique 18” black-trimmed five-spoke rims.
We’ll miss this shapely Swede when the time comes -- but until then, this is arguably the finest expression of the clever, if sober, sun lover.
First Impression I would drive this...
