This Rs 40-lakh car won't start if you are tipsy

Text: Krishnakumar | Video: Rajesh Karkera

Jan 10, 2007 1010 IST
Volvo India on Wednesday unveiled its second-generation hardtop convertible, the C70.

Trust us, the stunning three-piece retractable hardtop is swoon-worthy enough, forget the rest of the awesome goodies (Check out the video to the left). The first thing that occurs to you when you see the C70 is its size.

It looks a bit too big for a convertible, even a four-seater. Then when the hard top does its jig and fits smugly in mere seconds, you see why. It is meant to look like a sedan when the top is on.

The 'most secure in convertible category' award from the British Insurance Car is testimony to this car.

The company, which has over the years elevated its obsession with safety to an art form, has installed in the C70, a brilliant albeit a little irritating safety feature - the Alcoguard.

It aims to reduce the number of road accidents caused by drink-driving. Alcoguard is a fully integrated in-car lock that utilises advanced fuel-cell technology. In other words, the beauty just will not start if you are drunk beyond the legal limits.

The manufacturers are waiting to gauge the reaction in India before taking a call on whether to launch the car in India. And if India does indeed enthuse them, it will be priced upward of Rs 40 lakh, company sources said.

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