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Design-your-own-Volvo says it all
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The Volvo XC70

If you want to see the latest, the Volvo stand at the auto show should be among your first stops.

This car company's having one of the busiest years it has ever had, with the introduction of the C30, a sleek new sports sedan that comes with an amazing number of ways to personalize it, and the Volvo XC70 and XC90 wagons.

The primary difference between the two, as Volvoistas know, is that the XC90 is equipped with all-wheel drive, compared with the front-wheel drive XC70. There are small cosmetic differences between the two as well.

But have no fear. All of the qualities that were part and parcel of these popular Volvo wagon for years are still very much in evidence: "Sink in and enjoy them" leather seats, a certain solid feeling that's difficult to describe, and of course, safety features out the tailpipe to give you a sense of impenetrable security.

They do rely somewhat on styling cues of the past -- a square-shouldered profile, a Swedish spareness and elegant, timeless, straight-edged styling cues.

The rear glass extends further down than the side windows for improved visibility.

The two cars share a 3.2-liter in-line six-cylinder engine that produces 235 horsepower and 236 lbs./ft. of torque, which is standard . Mated to the engine is a six-speed "Geartronic" automatic transmission that enables the driver to shift manually when desired. The XC70 comes standard with all-wheel drive to ensure the best possible road grip in all situations. The new electronic Hill Descent Control (HDC) uses the vehicle's brakes and engine torque to crawl in bottom gear on steep downhill slopes.

One of the most interesting features on the two cars is a new height-adjustable integrated child booster cushion -- a world first -- with an extended inflatable curtain. Volvo officials hope that children will be more inclined to use them because they look more "grown up" when used with car seats.

The extensive list of safety features also includes the next-generation whiplash protection system, dynamic stability and traction control, tire pressure monitoring system and enhanced impact protection for pedestrians and cyclists.

Options available for the first time on the XC90 and XC70 include adaptive cruise control with collision warning and brake support to the blind spot information system and personal car communicator with keyless drive, two-way car communication and heartbeat sensor.

Inside you'll find "ortho-posture" supportive seats and ergonomically designed instruments including an elegant, super-slim center stack. The rear seat splits 40/20/40 offering the flexibility of seating for three or two outboard passengers separated by a wide armrest. Backrests can be folded separately to create a larger load compartment with an entirely flat floor.

Prices range between $26,815 to $31,565. Fuel economy on is 19/27.

In terms of other products, have you seen Volvo C30? It features some of the most unusual and striking styling you'll see on a car anywhere. It has hallmarks of Volvo's old P Series sports coupes and hatchbacks, yet still breaks its own styling ground from front to rear.

The car is available in two styles, Version 1.0 and Version 2.0, perhaps a nod to those of us who live and die by our computers.

At any rate, this little gem will be available in an almost bewildering number of color and option combinations to make for optimal customizing.

It's called the Custom Build ordering process, and for a one-time charge of $300 you can choose from a staggering array of options, accessories, exterior colors and interior combinations. The Custom Build special orders include 17 exterior colors and 12 interior color combinations, and a dazzling array of options, wheel covers, etc. All in all, there are more than 30 options.

Both versions of the C30 are powered by a turbocharged T5 5-cylinder engine that produces 227 horsepower. Driving enthusiasts will appreciate that the new C30 is 8.5 inches shorter and weighs about 320 pounds less than the Volvo S40 sport sedan. But while the C30 may be shorter, there is still plenty of room for four adults and all their stuff.

The Volvo C30 offers a comfortable and flexible interior with a surprisingly airy feel and generous room for four adults. Like all Volvo seats, the front seats are ergonomically designed and offer outstanding comfort and support. It is easy to move the seat for convenient access to the rear seat. The tapered design of the B-pillar also contributes to the easy entrance.

The rear bucket-style seats are positioned somewhat toward the center of the car to provide an exceptionally good forward view. This also provides space for storage in the side panels. To provide maximum interior flexibility, the rear seat backrests individually split and fold flat. Folding is easy when standing behind the car as well as from the passenger compartment.

Right out of the box, audio enthusiasts will appreciate the Volvo C30's standard 160-watt stereo system. And true audiophiles can choose (standard on Version 2.0) a Premium Sound system that closely matches the acclaimed system offered in the new C70, with a digital 5x130W ICE Power amplifier from Alpine, Dolby Pro Logic II Surround, and 10 loudspeakers from Danish loudspeaker manufacturer Dynaudio.

Total output for the Premium Sound System is an astonishing 650 watts. Both systems come standard with an auxiliary audio jack for connecting MP3 players, and an in-dash CD that can playback MP3 and WMA format music files.

Prices start at $22,700 for the Version 1.0 and $25,700 for Version 2.0.

First published on April 16, 2008 at 12:00 am