If you've seen a Volvo 850, you are already familiar with the essentials of the S- and V70. A new, more rounded nose and the sedan's reworked rear-window and taillight treatments (wagon sheetmetal aft of the windshield pillars is carried over intact from the 850) separate old from new, but not by all that much. It's a different story if you're looking at a C70. Volvo hasn't offered a sporty coupe since the 1970s; this one is worth the wait. Designed by Volvo's in-house styling team, it's as dramatic and appealing as a fully-functional four-place car can be. Low and slinky and planted firmly on its 18-inch wheels, the coupe is truly exciting, far more so in person than in photos. Four model designations apply to both sedan and wagon. For starters, the basic S- and V70 use a 168-hp inline five-cylinder engine, transversely mounted and driving the front wheels. Standard equipment includes ABS, air conditioning, all the usual interior power assists (with keyless remote entry for the door locks), heated side mirrors, an excellent sound system and a host of smaller but significant comfort and convenience features. The GT version adds aluminum alloy wheels, a power driver's seat and a power glass sunroof. At the GLT trim level, the 70s are equipped with a turbocharged version of the base powerplant, raising output to 190 hp and, more important in the real world, increasing torque and lowering the engine speed at which it peaks. An even more powerful (236 hp) edition of the same engine powers the T5 wagons and sedans, as well as the C70. A separate model, the V70 AWD, is Volvo's first all-wheel drive car. It is powered by the same engine used in the GLT and, like that version, is available only with an automatic transmission.
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