Volvo has released images of its new C70 ahead of its debut at Frankfurt motor show later this month.

Equipped with the same smart three-piece steel roof, practical seating for four adults and world-leading convertible safety, the new C70 features a revised front and rear design, along with an updated interior.

"The Volvo C70 has classic convertible lines and a strong identity of its own. What we have done is to carefully redesign the front and rear so they harmonise more with both today's and tomorrow's Volvo models. We have also increased the exclusiveness of the materials and trim details to enhance the atmosphere of luxury and enjoyment inside the car," explains Fedde Talsma, Exterior Chief Designer at Volvo Cars.

Modernised, self-assured front
With its new front, the Volvo C70 reveals traces of the S60 Concept Car that was unveiled at the Detroit auto show earlier this year, bringing the C70 in line with Volvo's new design language.

Bodywork details such as the front wings have also been redesigned, while the nose is more wedge-shaped and has been given added three-dimensional depth by moving some elements of the front. The new headlamps and the décor around the foglamps, for instance, have been angled offset up and to the rear, at the same time as the detailing of the lower grille has been enhanced.

From head-on, the front forms an open, inviting "V". The enlarged iron mark and the new, larger air intake reinforce the self-assured stance. Owners who want to be seen even more can specify a dramatic new red colour, Flamenco Red Pearl.

"The new C70 has a clearer, more pronounced face. The car's natural elegance has been modernised so it blends seamlessly with the most up-to-date, the most sophisticated backdrops," says Fedde Talsma.

New rear design
The high-tech LED lamps - the same type as found on the Volvo XC60 - are the most noticeable update at the rear. The entire lamp unit is clearly integrated with the oval that frames the new C70's rear panel.

As at the front, new lines and details in the bumper and elsewhere have been integrated to emphasise the depth and dynamism of the design language.

Interior that rewards the driver
The interior has been updated in several respects to create a unique ambience in the Volvo C70. The instrument panel has been redesigned, giving it a wider, sleeker look and the surface of the panel has a new texture that enhances the feeling of quality.

The new instruments, with gauges and graphics specific to the C70, are yet another example of how the car's premium feel has been emphasised still further.

"We've focused the new interior features around the driver to give the owner a stronger perception of being rewarded behind the wheel. The seats are upholstered in a new type of soft hide and there is even better detail finish to make driving a more pleasurable experience than ever before," continues Fedde Talsma.

World-leading safety among convertibles
The new Volvo C70 has been engineered as one of the safest convertibles on the market, as regards both active and passive safety. The car has an advanced body structure and several solutions that are unique in the world of open-top cars. The lack of a fixed roof has been compensated by structural reinforcements and sophisticated technology.

Protection in roll-over accidents
The Volvo C70 has sturdy metal hoops that shoot up behind the rear seat passengers to create added protective space should the car roll over. These hoops, which are part of Volvo's Rollover Protection System (ROPS), are activated by a gyro-sensor. Since the Volvo C70 has a proper glass rear window, the hoops shoot up through the glass if the roof is up. They have therefore been fitted with small hardened metal spikes that break the glass to guarantee proper protective function.

Unique door-mounted inflatable curtain
One important part of the side-impact and rollover protection is the inflatable curtain, which is installed in the door since there is no roof rail in which to fit it. The curtain has an extra-stiff design featuring twin rows of panels that are offset somewhat in relation to one another. As a result, the curtain can remain upright and help protect the head in an effective way even if the window is open. What is more, the curtain deflates slowly, helping to provide added protection should the car roll over.

Side-impact airbags and safety belt pre-tensioners for all seats
In addition to the inflatable curtains on either side, the front seat occupants also have side-impact airbags. The size of these bags is designed to shield both the chest and hips. What is more, the inflatable curtain interacts with the belt pre-tensioners to contribute to the best possible protection for front seat occupants in a side impact or rollover situation. All four seats come with safety belt pre-tensioners.

Note to Editors
The updated Volvo C70 is due for arrival in Australia next March (2010).

Volvo Safety
In 1927 Volvo's founders Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson stated that: "Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo therefore, is - and must remain - safety."

Volvo's philosophy today is still very much focussed on safety but is also driven by other principles such as the environment, innovation, quality, design and in creating cars that are as exciting to look at as they are to experience.

Every Volvo puts into practice over 80 years of 'know how' in developing safe vehicles. Volvo's models have, over the years, been equipped with an ever growing list of safety solutions from crumple zones, safety cages, airbags and whiplash protection to systems for dynamic stability and driving control. In particular, Volvo has led the way in safety innovation, preventing accidents and injuries and continually pushing the boundaries. This is evident in its Mobility 2020 Vision, that no occupant of any of its vehicles will be seriously or fatally injured by the year 2020.

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