The Volvo V70 is a mid-size 5-door estate car / station wagon manufactured by Volvo Cars since 1997. It is closely related to the S70, S60 and S80 saloons, as well as the four-wheel drive Cross Country (XC) and XC70. Since its inception, the V70 has evolved through three generations, with the second generation designed by Peter HorburyVolvo V70 is a 5-door estate car which was only available in this body style, no sedan version being ever released by the Swedish manufacturer. However, the S80, which is basically a whole different car, is actually considered to be the V70 sedan version. The V70 is basically an evolved version of the Volvo 850 station wagon version which comes with numerous advanced features that could improve most of the car specifications. One of the main goal of the Volvo engineers was to design an aerodynamic that would be able to provide high performance similar to other Volvo vehicles. And the Swedish company really managed to reach their goal, the V70 being capable of reaching a maximum speed of 250km/h while remaining a very spacious 5-door estate car that is often described as one of the safest vehicles in the world.
T5 and R models are high-performance models. The T5 was equipped with a sport-tuned high pressure turbocharged 2.0 or a 2.3 litre engine with maximum boost pressure set at 10.5 pounds per square inch (72 kPa), and 'turbine' alloy wheels, whereas the LT models had a low pressure turbocharged 2.4 litre engine with maximum boost pressure at 7 to 8 pounds per square inch (48 to 55 kPa). The R was fitted with a full factory fitted body kit (chin spoiler and rear spoiler, anthracite alloy wheels) a range of unique colours.
There were 3 phases of R FWD & R-AWD produced for the United Kingdom market between 1997 and 2000:
Phase 1: were produced from 1997 till February 1999 (UK P to S reg) and were available with either the B5234T-4 (2319cc) engine (18T turbo 250 bhp/350 N·m) and five-speed manual gearbox; or the B5234T-6 engine (16T turbo 240 bhp/310 N·m) and four-speed three-mode automatic gearbox. Both engines used the Bosch Motronic 4.4 engine management system. (0–62 6.8(M FWD)/7.3(M AWD)/7.4(A FWD)/8.1(A AWD), 155/143 mph).
Phase 2: were produced from March 1999 (UK S to T reg) and were only available with the B5234T-8 (2319 cc) engine (18T turbo 265 bhp/360 N·m) and four-speed adaptive automatic gearbox. These cars use the Bosch Motronic ME7 engine management system with drive-by-wire throttle and variable exhaust camshaft valve timing. (0–62 6.9 143 mph). WHIPS system, and larger side SIPS airbags for head protection.
Phase 3: were produced from May 1999 till May 2000 (UK T to W reg). They were only available with the larger B5244RT (2435cc) engine (19T turbo 265 bhp/350 N·m) and five-speed adaptive automatic gearbox. These also use the Bosch Motronic ME7 engine management system, drive-by-wire and VVT. These cars were fitted with twin tail pipes (first time Volvo fitted twin exhaust system), WHIPS system, and larger side SIPS airbags for head protection, and vented rear brake discs. (0–62 7.2 155 mph).
Latest generation of Road Traffic Information Satellite Navigation used on the Phase III's, this is the same CD based system used by Volvo up until 2003 and on the C70 until 2005.
Roof rails were changed now the same as V70XC.
Altogether, Volvo sold 74 Phase III’s in the UK, split by colour: Black stone 5, Nautic Blue Pearl 10, Dark Olive Pearl 3, Silver Metallic 17, Laser Blue Metallic 33, Venetian Red Pearl 6