When it hits showrooms in April of 2006, the Volvo C70 will be available in one trim, the T5. With a base price of $39,405, including a $695 destination charge, the C70 comes with a lot more than its power retractable hardtop. Among the standard features are a dual-zone climate control system, power front seats with manual lumbar and driver’s side memory, a host of power features such as power windows with automatic up/down door glass, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, and an eight-speaker, 160-watt sound system with a six-disc CD changer. Controls for the radio and standard cruise control are featured on the thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel. That sub-$40,000 starting point also buys front fog lights, dual chrome exhaust tips, an exterior temperature gauge, and power heated rearview mirrors with memory. Haverdal T-Tec, a synthetic material uniquely designed to withstand abuse from rain and direct sunlight, covers the seats and door panels, while 17-inch alloy wheels and 225/35 tires dress up the exterior.

That’s a nice list, to be sure, but the 2006 Volvo C70 can be equipped with a number of options to suit buyers with more expensive tastes. Three package groups are offered: Climate, Premium, and Dynaudio. The Climate Package, retailing for $695, is a must have since it’s the only way to outfit your convertible with heated seats, a feature that makes those moonlit cruises in the cool night air so enjoyable. Headlight washers and rain-sensing wipers are also included, the latter a feature that would likely be welcome on the meteorologically-schizophrenic strip of asphalt known as the Hana Highway. In exchange for $1,395, the Premium Package offers leather seats, a universal garage door opener, and a compass in the rearview mirror. Keep in mind that getting heated leather seats, a feature favored by many open-top enthusiasts, requires purchasing the Climate and Premium packages, for a total outlay of about $2,100. Last, there’s the $1,550 Dynaudio Package that packs a deafening output of 910 watts through fourteen speakers and a Dolby Pro-Logic II Surround sound system. Like the base unit, a six-disc CD changer is included. Of special note, an auxiliary jack for items like an iPod should be forthcoming for the 2007 model year.

Stand-alone options include a DVD-based navigation system, 18-inch alloy wheels rolling on 235/40 tires, xenon headlights, a rear parking sensor, a rear wind blocker that clicks in just behind the front seats, and special silver metallic or white pearl paint. A five-speed automatic transmission can also be chosen to replace the standard six-speed manual.

For our drive through the Hawaiian tropics, Volvo provided two versions of the 2006 C70 – one with a six-speed manual transmission and the optional 18-inch alloys for an as-tested price of $40,400, and another with the Premium Package, the Dynaudio Package, and the automatic transmission for a total of $43,600. The latter example represents what the company expects most buyers will opt for, with six-speed models comprising 12- to 15-percent of total sales at the most.