VOLVO C70 Coupe Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Volvo introduced the C70 in 1996, reigniting the elegant lines of its famous coupes that faded away after the dismissal of the P1800 in 1973.

It was a surprising move made by the Swedish automaker that suddenly entered the competition against the Mercedes-Benz CLK, Lancia Kappa Coupe, and BMW 3 Series Coupe. Peugeot also joined the bandwagon with the 406 Coupe. However, the French competitor didn't have the same distinguished aura as these premium two-door vehicles. With some help from Tom Walkinshaw Racing, Volvo created an excellent vehicle for that segment.

While the drivetrain and suspension were carefully adjusted by TWR, the exterior design was signed by Peter Horbury, with help for the interior coming from Ian Callum (who worked on several Jaguar and Aston Martin vehicles). The car's front fascia resembled the 850 lineup with its horizontal headlights penned with rounded corners. From its profile, the raked windshield and arched window line created an elegant yet sporty appearance for the C70. Finally, at the back, the taillights filled the quarter-panels endings, flanking the trunk lid.

Inside, there were four seats, with more room for the front passengers and very limited for the rear ones. Finally, the dashboard didn't look like a piece of industrial equipment anymore, and a modern look for the instrument cluster enhanced the look of the cockpit.

Under the hood, Volvo installed a choice of five engines, all gasoline, with or without a turbocharger. Power went to the front wheels via a five-speed manual or an automatic gearbox (with four or five gears, depending on the engine).