2008 Volvo C70 Caresto Edition review and pictures

Volvo C70 Caresto Edition review:

The Caresto V8 Speedster makes a comeback at the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas - accompanied by its posh cousin, the stunning Volvo C70 Caresto Edition.

"The Speedster is a dream car that few people can afford, while the new C70 is the affordable distant relative. Two very different cars, but put them next to each other and you see that they dropped from the same family-tree," says specialist car builder and customizer Leif Tufvesson.

Leif Tufvesson is one of Sweden`s most skilled specialist car builders and customizers. Many of his cars have received widespread international acclaim.

He is the man who built the Caresto T6 Roadster and V8 Speedsters, shown by Volvo at the 2005 and 2006 SEMA Shows, respectively, in Las Vegas. And now Leif is back again in Vegas with the V8 Speedster - plus a refined version of the new C70 convertible.

Inspired by the Speedster, Leif has put his own personal touch to Volvo`s hardtop convertible with a new front and rear, a new interior and a beautiful two-tone blue paint job.

Shared colors and design cues

"I have used a lot of the same color combinations and design cues to make the C70 an attractive cousin to the Speedster. The C70 has been exhibited at a Swedish show and it was a great success," says Leif Tufvesson. He continues:

"Thanks to its already stunning looks, the C70 was a rewarding customizing object. My job was to refine the looks and make the car more personal. The idea is that this C70 should satisfy all Volvo`s functional and safety requirements. In other words, it demonstrates what an individualized C70 might look like."

Leif used a BSR PPC tuning system to give the five-cylinder turbo engine a hefty vitamin injection. Power is up from 220 hp to 278 hp and torque has increased from 320 Nm to a massive 441 Nm.

The inlet pipes are made of polished aluminum and the engine cover is made of carbon fiber. Leif also used an Optiflow sport air filter.

Two-year project

It took Leif less than two years to build the V8 Speedster. Leif and his company Caresto, a name also sported on the grille of the car, have two objectives in building the car:

"On the one hand the aim is, of course, to sell the cars and it is my hope to build at least six V8 Speedsters and even more C70s. On the other hand it is in fact for my own enjoyment because I love building cars. It`s my hobby and at the same time, it`s my job."

Leif Tufvesson previously worked for the Volvo Concept Center and for six years he was responsible for the development department of Koenigsegg, the Swedish sports-car manufacturer. He now runs his own business, Caresto, in Ängelholm in southern Sweden. In 2004 he won the prestigious "Hot Rod of the Year" award from Hot Rod Magazine.

Volvo C70 "Caresto Edition" - Technical Specifications:

Body:

Front:
Entirely redesigned front where the grille has been moved down and angled back, and the area underneath is recessed and painted the same color as the grille (anthracite gray) to give the impression of a larger grille with a hungrier, leaner look. The bumper section is moved ahead and pulled down to make the car look larger and a little less abruptly cropped at the front, particularly when viewed from the side. Newly designed foglight panels in polished aluminum.

Rear:
Newly designed bottom panel that has been moved down and shaped like a venturi tunnel to create a sportier aura. The sides of the panel are shaped and tailored to follow the contours of the new exhaust tailpipes.

Chassis:
Lowering kit: 25 mm lower and 15% stiffersprings compared with the original setup.

Wheels:
Twenty-spoke aluminum wheels (20 x 8.5) specially created for this particular car. Wheel hubs painted anthracite gray or hyper-silver. Wheel rim edges in polished stainless steel.

Tires:
Pirelli P Zero Nero 245/30ZR20.

Exhaust system:
3´- 2.5´ stainless steel full-flow exhaust system, catalytic converters and silencers with Caresto-designed tailpipes.


Paint:
The car is painted in Caresto Blue Pearl. The roof pillars are in silver and the roof itself is in matt metallic dark-blue.