The body of this vehicle amounts to a two-door coupe design, although the actual coupe edition is history for Volvo's 2003 line while the pop-top continues as a sensuous convertible with two engine choices, both reworked for more muscle.
The interior, arranged with twin front buckets and two rear seat positions, emphasizes luxury and comfort. A driver-oriented cockpit adds power controls for all equipment, including dual climate zones and electrochromic rearview mirror. To reach the rear area, front seat slides forward under power when the backrest is moved.
Engine choices include a high-pressure turbo-charged 2.3-liter, in-line-five with nine more horses added to 245-hp, or the base 2.3-liter, five-cylinder light-pressure turbo with six-point gain to 196-hp.
An automatic five-speed works for either engine but the high-pressure turbo also offers an optional manual five-speed.
Volvo's convertible has more passive and active safety systems than most coupes and sedans -- side air bags, pillars and doors reinforced with Boron steel, and rollover protection from steel hoops that pop up behind the rear seat head restraints if on-board sensors detect a potential roll. Maya Gold is the latest body color.
