The Volvo C40 Recharge is an all-electric coupe-SUV

Volvo’s electric investment continues with a second electric SUV called the C40 Recharge. Now we get to know everything about the “coupe sibling” for the XC40, which will only be sold digitally.
. The C40 is the first Volvo to be sold exclusively in electric versions. The C40 will not be available as a plug-in hybrid or with a petrol engine, this is a so-called Recharge model that shares the driveline with the XC40 Recharge P8 AWD.

The C40 is built on the same technology as the XC40 and Polestar 2 – on the so-called CMA architecture – and will be assembled at the Ghent factory in Belgium, starting this autumn. So far, everything is as expected. Less expected is that Volvo has decided that the C40 will only be sold over the Internet. What this means in detail is difficult to say, the car will certainly be on display in Volvo’s various showrooms. Customers can look at the car but can order it themselves on Volvo’s website.

The C40 is seven centimeters lower than the XC40. Up to the privacy screen, it loads as much as the XC40, 413 VDA liters, but above there is not as much space and the ceiling height at the front is three centimeters lower while in the rear seat it is a full six centimeters lower. All according to Volvo’s own measurements. However, the C40 is as long and wide as the XC40.

The C40 is launched with the powerful P8 AWD driveline, which means that it has two electric motors that each provide 204 horsepower and 330-newton meters. A total of 408 adhesives and 660 newton-meters will enable the C40 to travel from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 4.9 seconds, just as fast as the sibling.

The battery pack is also recognizable. The maximum gross capacity is 78-kilowatt hours (kWh) and of that 75 kWh is available for operation. The maximum charging power for fast charging is 150 kilowatts (kW). The range according to the WLTP driving cycle is set to about 420 km depending on the equipment, which is in line with the XC40. Polestar 2 can thus continue to be the best in the family with its 440 km. Volvo states, however, that the range is expected to be longer in the future through updates to the car’s software.

Volvo-branded all-weather tires (Pirelli Scorpion All-Season) are on the C40 Recharge on delivery. These tires should be used in both summer and winter. “Dangerous to life”, says Teknikens Värld’s tire expert.

The C40 is designed to be able to receive software updates, so-called OTA updates, without having to visit a workshop. XC40 Recharge is currently receiving its first OTA update, which includes a new version of the Android Automotive operating system, but also an increase in charging speed and, according to Volvo, improved range. Exactly what it is that enables extended range is not known.

Like the XC40 Recharge, the C40 has an Android Automotive-based touch screen with the Google Maps map feature and the Google Assistant voice assistant.

The C40 Recharge is far from the last electric Volvo we will see in the future. The model range will, and must, be significantly broadened if Volvo is to reach its goal that every Volvo sold must be fully electric by 2030.