Leather-free new Volvo C40 Recharge is EV-only
Volvo has revealed its next EV, the Volvo C40 Recharge. It’s basically a coupe-style sister to the popular XC40 SUV, but with one crucial point of difference…
The big surprise of the vehicle’s online unveil event was that the C40 is “the first Volvo model in history designed as pure electric only”.
It comes as Volvo says its upcoming EVs will only be sold online.
So although the C40 uses the same motor and battery set-up as the XC40 Recharge T8 EV, there will not be equivalents of ICE– and plug-in hybrid-powered versions of the XC40. The XC40 Recharge T8 is scheduled to reach Australia in August.
In the past Volvo used the letter ‘C’ for its coupe models. The C40 Recharge isn’t exactly a traditional coupe, but it is lower and sleeker than the XC40, in the same was as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Porsche all offer sleeker but less practical versions of various SUVs; the Audi e-Tron is a one example, with Sportback body styles complementing the more conventional SUV shape.
Those looks mean the C40 Recharge is a less practical vehicle. The reshaped roofline may look good, but it also cuts rear-seat headroom by around 60mm. Though space beneath the cargo compartment cover of the new EV is almost identical to the XC40, that sloping tail will reduce its ability to carry taller cargo.
Length and width are the same for C40 Recharge and XC40, and both are built on the same platform. Known as CMA, this architecture was jointly developed by Volvo and its Chinese parent company Geely. The C40 Recharge will be built at a Volvo’s Ghent factory in Belgium.
Volvo says the C40 Recharge will use the same dual-motor set-up as the XC40 Recharge T8. With each 150kW motor driving an axle, performance is sure to be snappy.
The battery pack will be the same 78kWh lithium-ion unit as used in the XC40 Recharge T8. According to Volvo, the C40 Recharge’s driving range will be “around 420km”.
It will have an 11kW on-board AC charger and will be compatible with 150kW DC fast chargers. Fast-charging the battery pack from almost empty to 80 percent will take around 40 minutes.
Volvo says it expects the driving range of the C40 Recharge will improve over time as the car receives over-the-air software updates.
The car’s infotainment system was jointly developed with Google, and runs that company’s Android operating system. Apps and services including Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Store will be baked into the infotainment experience.
Inside, the C40 Recharge has the same elevated SUV-style seating position as the XC40. While the interior design is similar, the C40 Recharge will come with its own specific colour and decoration options. It’ll also be the first Volvo ever with a completely leather-free cabin.
Production is scheduled to begin around September or October 2021. Expect Volvo to supply EV-hungry left-hand drive markets such as Europe, the USA and most of Asia before getting around to Australia, probably sometime well into 2022.
