Volvo's C70 coupes have always been the stylish exception to the boxy norm, but as the company's design theme grows ever more curvaceous, so does its two-door model. The new 2011 Volvo C70, which debuts at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show, is perhaps the shapeliest Volvo design to reach consumers yet.
While the majority of the car lies largely unchanged from the 2009 model, designers were given a chance to improve the C70's looks, both inside and out.
"We have carefully redesigned the front and rear of the car, said Fedde Talsma, Volvo's chief exterior designer, "so they harmonize more with the larger Volvo models. We have also increased the exclusiveness of the interior materials and trim details to enhance the feeling of luxury."
If those exterior cues look familiar, they're lifted almost directly from the S60 concept shown at the 2009 Detroit auto show. The C70 receives the concept's sweeping headlights and chiseled hoodline, and a revised decklid out back.
Inside, Volvo simply refined the existing interior to impart a more luxurious feel than the outgoing C70. The instrument panel is now wider and sleeker than before, and finished with a soft-touch material. If buyers opt for leather seating, they'll find themselves comforted by softer hides than those used in previous models.
While Volvo offers a host of powertrain choices in Europe, the engine offering for U.S.-spec C70s will likely remain unchanged. Expect the turbocharged 2.5-liter I-5 to be the sole offering, mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic.
Following its September debut in Germany, the 2011 Volvo C70 should enter production in November, and ultimately reach dealerships in the first quarter of 2010. Pricing hasn't been announced quite yet, but expect base prices to remain similar to the 2009 C70, which starts at $40,625.