We also enjoyed the silky smooth turbocharged engine with its broad power band. The Low Pressure Turbo's 190 horsepower works alongside nearly 200 foot-pounds of torque from just 1800 rpm, maintaining that output all the way to 5000 rpm, which results in robust throttle response at any engine speed. Punch it, and the Convertible accelerates quickly and smoothly, with no time spent waiting for the turbo to spool. Accelerating from 0 to 60 mph takes less than 8 seconds and the car boasts a top speed of 130 mph. We found the automatic transmission to be responsive, shifting down quickly to the appropriate gear with the precision you would expect in finely engineered machinery. The brakes, too, are built to match the C70's potential for speed: They provide good pedal feel and did not fade while descending steep grades.

The suspension serves up sharp handling response. This car has that feel of a fine European sports sedan; it gives up little to a BMW. The driver immediately feels connected to the car and to the road, which instills confidence in corners. Our faith grew with the optional traction control system on our test car, which kept the wheels from spinning in the snow in the mountains above Sedona.