Pricing for C70… And diesel Volvos on the way

Volvo has officially launched its C70 folding hardtop Down Under. The Pininfarina-built coupe-cabriolet was launched today in the fire-ravaged Victorian High County.

Expecting to sell around 450-500 of the four-place, front-wheel drive five-cylinder two-doors in Australia in 2007, the Swedish car-maker will offer two versions – the naturally aspirated LE priced from $69,950 and the $79,950 turbocharged top-of-the-range T5.

Comprehensively equipped and claimed by Volvo to be the safest convertible on sale today, the C70 significantly undercuts its predecessor. Priced at just under $100,000 when it was last offered in early 2004, the first generation C70 was criticised for its lack of refinement and generally lacklustre handling.

According to Volvo, the new car, based on the much-admired S40/V50 platform, is between 50 and 100 per cent stiffer and delivers sedan quality handling, ride and refinement. And with a couple of small qualifiers, after our initial test drive of over approx 400km, we can attest to the huge steps forward the new car has made.

The LE’s 2.4-litre fuel-injected five-cylinder produces 125kW and 230Nm of torque. It is offered with a choice of five-speed automatic or manual transmissions. The 162kW/320Nm low-boost turbo T5 (pictured) is also offered in auto and manual versions -- the latter boasting an extra ratio over the ‘cooking model’ LE.

Both versions feature an electro-hydraulic three-piece folding hardtop and a full compliment of safety equipment including pyrotechnically-fired rollover protection system (ROPS) and door-mounted IC (Inflatable Curtain) side collision and rollover protection airbags. These are in addition of conventional side thorax bags and a first, says Volvo.

Volvo also took the occasion to announce (in a very low key manner), the imminent arrival of turbodiesel-powered versions of the S40 compact sedan and V50 wagon.

Volvo’s volume models Down Under, the S40/V50 will feature a version of the same D5 direct-injected turbodiesel engine that recently debuted in the XC90 SUV. The turbodiesel S40 and V50 will not be offered with AWD at this time.

Pricing is still to be confirmed for the diesel models, as is final standard specification.

According to Volvo Australia’s Todd Hallenbeck, the S40 will be pegged at around $45,000 with the wagon offered at a premium of around $2000. Specification will include DSTC (stability and traction control) and well as some other upgrades over the standard S40/V50 offering.

Volvo dealers are currently taking orders for the new diesel sedan and wagon with the first deliveries to customers expected in February 2007.

Volvo intends to also offer a turbodiesel powerplant option in its new S80 range-topper and consideration is being given to launching a diesel version of the new C30 hatch sometime in 2007. No local turbodiesel plans are being made for the C70 at this stage.

Look out for CarPoint’s launch review of the Volvo C70 soon.