Why Volvo

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Fore!  Here is Volvo Cars’ first production car ever to run on electricity. What is more, it’s pretty capable off-road. The C70-inspired Volvo Golf Cart is recharged overnight and can be driven 37 miles on a single charge.

The Volvo Golf Cart admittedly does not embrace the same high-tech solutions as the forthcoming plug-in hybrid – and it has a totally different application area. It can carry players from one hole to another on the golf course.

The golf cart was developed by Swedish company Pro Green Nordic. It is the brainchild of Ulf Renner who first contacted Volvo Cars back in 2006. Since then, the company has travelled a long way to meet the demands from the design and marketing departments at Volvo Cars.

Lower weight with one seat

Most golf carts are two-seaters. Not the Volvo Golf Cart, which has just one seat. It is thus much lighter than its competitors are.

It is an exact scaled-down version of the C70. The color is Electric Silver. An accompanying tow-hook makes it possible to tow a small trailer.

In addition to golf courses, the cart can be used in recreation facilities and for light transport duties at shows and trade fairs, for instance.

The aim is to unveil the cart to the golfing public during the European leg of the Volvo World Match Play Championship which will be held at the Finca Cortesin course in Casares, Spain, on October 29 to November 1.

The new Volvo C70 launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September has the same smart three-piece steel roof, practical seating for four adults and world-leading convertible safety as before. With an updated design and elevated premium feel, the C70 also delivers an “I want” aura of absolute world class.

Modernized, self-assured front

With its new front, the Volvo C70 reveals traces of the S60 Concept Car that was unveiled in early 2009. Thereby the C70 is upgraded to relate more closely to the design language of the larger cars in the Volvo model range

Bodywork details such as the front wings have also been redesigned, contributing to the decidedly altered appearance. The nose is more wedge-shaped and has been given added three-dimensional depth by moving some elements of the front both longitudinally and vertically. The new headlamps and the decor around the fog lamps, 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 color, Flamenco Red Pearl.

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

Exclusive new rear design

The exclusive high-tech LED lamps, of 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 emphasis 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 ambiance 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 exclusive new instruments, with gauges and graphics specific to the C70, are yet another example of how the car’s premium feel has been emphasized 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 preventive and protective safety. The car has an advanced body structure and several solutions that are unique in the world of open 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 survival 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, IC, 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 dimensioned 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.

Elegant three-part steel roof

The Volvo C70 transforms smoothly from a cosy coupe into an open convertible. Just press a button and the three-part steel roof folds quickly and silently away, disappearing neatly into the boot.

Facts about the roof of the Volvo C70:

• The car has to be at a standstill when the roof is raised or lowered
• The car only needs 2 meters of free vertical space when the roof is raised or lowered
• There is no need for extra space behind the car while the roof is being raised or lowered
• The roof takes about 30 seconds to open/shut (irrespective of climate)
• An electric motor, hydraulic pump and computer are used to open and shut the roof
• The boot lid has two opening modes: for handling of the roof or to provide access to the luggage compartment
• The roof is divided into three sections
• The roof panels are made of steel
• The seams between the sections are sealed with rubber
• The side windows slide up against the roof rail after roof closes.
• The boot lid is made of aluminum and steel
• The body’s torsional rigidity improves by about 15 percent when the roof is raised

Engine range, Volvo C70

Advanced engine and exhaust filtration technology means Volvo’s engines combine high performance with low environmental impact. The Volvo C70 is available with the following petrol and diesel engines. The fuel consumption and CO₂ emission figures apply to versions with a manual gearbox running in the mixed driving cycle.