Motoring Editor STEVE NELSON lifts the lid on Volvo's coupé-cum-cabriolet, the C70.

We have long had a love affair with the convertible in the UK, which is the second largest market for these vehicles in Europe. Only the Germans like to feel the wind in their hair more than us.

Our climate is - believe it or not - well-suited. The sun is rarely going to be hot enough to burn us as we enjoy that air-cooled style.

On the other hand, drivers in the hot Med countries risk being frazzled by 30C sunshine and deceived as the wind masks the true strength of the sun.

What's cool about finding your sun-burned legs are glued to baking hot leather seats after popping out to the shops?

The Volvo C70 remains one of the classiest and most graceful of the convertibles. It was the world's first four-seat premium brand convertible with a retractable steel roof.

Not only does it look one of the best of its type with the top down, but it is also such a good looker when it doubles up as a sports coupé.

What spoils some convertibles is their shape to accommodate the roof. They look like those large American ladies with dreadful bottoms. But the C70 is big enough to put on those extra pounds at the back with virtually no loss to the aesthetics.

Wider, longer and taller than its soft-top rival models, the BMW 3-series cabriolet and Audi A4 cabriolet, it is remarkably handsome.

Most convertibles will struggle to carry four adults, and here the C70 scores well again. I tested it with both grown-ups and children in the back, and there were no complaints about legroom, although it can be a tricky climb in and out.

There are always going to be sacrifices with this type of car. Half of the 400-litre boot area is lost if the roof is lowered, and the performance qualities cannot match those of a regular car.

A practical roof divider in the boot makes it easy to assess how much can be loaded when the roof is down, and a "load assist" button in the cabin lifts the folded roof panels 200mm.

It is impossible not to be impressed by the acrobatics of the three-piece steel roof's lowering and raising mechanism.

Simply hold down the button next to the handbrake, sit back and marvel for the next 30 seconds at the stunning display of electronic engineering and design. It is a piece of pure balletic theatre guaranteed to stop passers-by in their tracks as the hydraulic pump and computer get to work.

Equally striking is the audio system, which is quite possibly the best in any convertible. The High Performance system, a £650 optional extra in the test car, featured eight speakers and a 4x40 watts amplifier. Even with the roof off, the sound quality was stunning.

Step up to the SE Lux model and you get Dynaudio Premium Sound, featuring Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound with 12 speakers and two sub woofers. The total output registers 910 wattts of music power. That should impress the neighbours and anyone else within the radius of a small town.

Audio controls are accessed on either the steering wheel or ultra-thin stack on the dashboard.

Three trim levels are available - Sport, SE and Lux. These are offered with a choice of three five-cylinder engines, a 2.4i 170PS petrol, 180PS turbodiesel D5 and the range-topping petrol T5.

I had already experienced the T5 in the wonderful Ford Focus ST, and here - in the tested Sport version - it could not match that sort of thrilling performance for obvious reasons.

But it will still accelerate from 0-60mph in 7.6 seconds, and go on to a top speed of 150 mph.

Up front, there was plenty more to admire. Heated leather seats, personalised audio and security set-ups and cruise control are a few of the features on offer.

Oh and in case you had any doubts, the C70 features class-leading safety. Even when exposed to the elements at high speeds, I felt secure in the knowledge that this C70 has twice the structural rigidity of its predecessor and is one of the most torsionally rigid convertibles in the world.

This is a beautiful car, a two-in-one graceful masterpiece of open-top or sports coupé motoring.

At a glance

Model: Volvo C70 T5 Sport

Price: £29,500 (C70 range from £26,225)

Engine: 2.5-litre, 5-cylinder turbocharged unit producing 220bhp, with 320Nm of torque

Transmission: Six-speed manual, with the option of five-speed Geartronic

Overall width/length: 4582mm/1820mm

Fuel consumption: 31mpg (combined cycle)

C02 emissions: 217g/km

Acceleration: 0-60mph in 7.6 seconds

Top speed: 150mph

Insurance group: 17E