By JAMES RAIA
www.TheWeeklyDriver.com

Hardtop convertibles have been around periodically in the United States for about 50 years. And from the early years of the Ford Fairliner to the current offerings of several manufacturers, the same question always arises:

How mechanically sound is the retracting hardtop mechanism?

The success rate has greatly fluctuated, but that hasn't stopped several high-end manufacturers — BMW and Lexus, for example — from returning to the niche model in recent years. And now Volvo has joined the fun with a newly designed, attention-grabbing sedan.

As a 2006 mid-year addition, the Volvo C70 T5 is a four-door, four-passenger hardtop convertible that showcases the Swedish manufacturer's innovation and reputation at its best. The car drives so nicely and offers such well-planned features, it's hard not to like.

My weekly test drive was the 2.5-liter, 218-horsepower turbocharged, 5-cylinder C70 with 5-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift gate. A six-speed manual transmission is also available.

Without the hardtop deployed, the handsome C70 offers no indication that it's a convertible. Instead, it looks like a stylish sedan. But when the hardtop is deployed with the pushing of a a button near the transmission cluster, the convertible is equally attractive.
As a new vehicle, the convertible mechanism's durability is unknown. But in either direction, the convertible feature works well, with one small caveat. When the metal hardtop and rear glass window are deployed, they'll only properly lock into place in the trunk if the plastic platform they rest on is also securely in place.

A small, illuminated button positioned just inside the trunk, is among several other smart features Volvo has included. When the top is down, it fills most of the trunk. But push the trunk button and the crunch metal top, glass and platform rise en masse about six inches, providing easy access to a still usable storage area.

Volvo's savvy ways are continued throughout the vehicle.

Two other push buttons, one on the top outside of each front seat, adjusts the entire seat forward and backward. And with the pull of an adjacent lever on each seat, rear passengers have surprisingly easy access into the adequately spacious rear cabin.

There's also a wealth of deep storage bins throughout the car as well as neatly designed and sturdy rear front-seat "kangaroo" pouches. And at the top of each rear headrest are sequestered rollover bars designed to deploy if sensors detect a pending problem.

But perhaps the car's most innovative feature is its a Volvo-named "ultra-thin center console panel." The AM/FM radio 6-disk in-dash CD changer and heating/air conditioner controls are slickly packaged into the curved, thin configuration. The unique design leaves an open, if hidden, passage between the two front seats.

Driving the C70 is an uncompromised joy. While not exceeding quick, the vehicle accelerates well and its steering and handling and ride quality all add up to what's expected of the Swedish brand — a tight, controlled car that embraces the road regardless of conditions.

The C70 has a wealth of standard features — turn signal indicators in outside rearview mirrors to ABS brakes with traction/anti-skid control. My vehicle also included nearly $5,000 of options and add-ons, most notably the $1,395 Premium Package (leather seats and a compass in the rear view mirror) and the $1,550 Dynaudio Package. It's the killer sound system.

The C70 has only been on the road for a few months and its retracting hardtop may foster plenty of detractors, just as other convertible hardtops offerings have in the past 50 years.

The Volvo's long-term retracting hardtop durability verdict is still many miles down the road. But there's no doubt the vehicle makes a good first impression.

The Weekly Driver: 2007 Volvo C70 T5 (Convertible)

Safety Features — Dual front, front side airbags, rollover bar (sensor deployment)

Fuel Mileage (estimates) — 21 mpg (city), 29 mpg (highway).

Warranty — Bumper to bumper, 4 years/50,000 miles; Corrosion, 8 years/unlimited miles; Free scheduled maintenance, 3 years/30,000 miles.

Base Price — $38,710.00.

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To read more of James Raia's auto reviews and to subscribe to his free car review newsletter, visit: www.TheWeeklyDriver.com