Volvo presents the C40 Recharge. A fully electric brother of the XC40, which takes a slightly different approach in terms of appearance.
Volvo entered the EV arena last year with the XC40 P8 Recharge. The first fully electric model from the Swedish brand. That tastes like more, it turns out. That XC40 now gets a technically almost identical brother: the C40 Recharge. In contrast to the XC40, the C40 enters the market purely with electric drive. Volvo proudly calls it its first car to be developed from the ground up as a fully electric model.
Strictly speaking that is correct, although it is of course true that the C40 is a kind of fraternal twin brother of the XC40. That already starts with the appearance. From the nose to somewhere halfway there are similarities with XC40, but at the level of detail it is just a bit different. For example, at the bottom of the front bumper around the fog lights we see dark inserts that resemble those of the Polestar 2. The ‘grille’ is also slightly different. The closed panel is not framed, but borders directly on the surrounding areas. The headlights are also slightly different in shape, they are a bit more squeezed towards the center of the nose than on the XC40.
Volvo C40 Recharge
More idiosyncratic
From the B-pillar it all becomes a lot more unique. After all, the C40 has a completely different roofline. At the back of the roof we see two striking upright parts that seem to form a kind of split roof spoiler. Below that, the C-pillar is lined with rather slim LED taillights, which end in a kind of C-shape in the striking stern of the C40. In that ‘C’ protrudes a line of lighting, those are the indicators. All in all, it gives the C40 a robust look from the rear and with a little imagination you can recognize a hint of 480 in it. Totally Volvo, anyway. Although the view to the rear may be somewhat disappointing, the subtle rear spoiler just below the window makes it a playfully designed whole.
Volvo C40 Recharge
The dimensions of the C40 are also different. Despite the same wheelbase, the C40 is 6 mm longer and with a height of 1.58 m it is 7 cm lower than the XC40. The headroom that you give up in the back due to the sloping roof, however, is not too bad. In the C40, according to the dimensions supplied by Volvo, you have a small centimeter less headroom than in the back of the XC40. With the rear seats up you also have as much luggage space as in the XC40: 413 liters. Undoubtedly you have a lot less space if you stack it a bit higher, but Volvo does not specify any sizes for that. With 2,185 kilos, the C40 is not a lightweight, it is about 30 kilos heavier than the XC40 P8 Recharge. Good news for caravan owners: you can tow up to 1,800 kilos with the C40.
Well-known technique
The fact that the Volvo C40 Recharge, despite its eccentric lines, strongly resembles the XC40, already betrays what happens under the skin. The C40 shares its CMA base with the XC40 and specifically in combination with the technology of the XC40 P8 Recharge. That means it is a four-wheel drive EV, which generates its powers with two electric motors. A 150 kW electric motor is connected to the front and rear axles, which together provide a system power of 408 hp and 660 Nm of torque. Good for 0-100 km / h acceleration that can be done in just 4.9 seconds. Just as fast as the XC40 P8 Recharge. The top speed is 180 km / h. It can probably be faster, but every modern Volvo is limited to 180 km / h.
The C40 Recharge draws its electricity from a battery pack with a usable capacity of 75 kWh. You can charge it from 10 to 80 percent in 40 minutes using the fast charger with 150 kW charging power. If you continue charging to 100 percent, then a WLTP range of around 420 kilometers is possible, according to Volvo. If you hang the C40 on an AC charger, it will take you about 8 hours to get it full.
Interior
In the C40 it is a feast of recognition. The interior is roughly the same as that of the XC40, but that is certainly not a punishment. The infotainment system is also known; which runs on the basis of Google’s Android operating system. Ideal of course for those who are already familiar with this with their telephone. This system made its debut at Volvo on the XC40 Recharge and also works in the C40 on a 12.3-inch screen. Volvo reports that it offers unlimited mobile data for the C40, as well as the ability to install over-the-air updates or new features for the car. Nice detail is that Volvo does not use real leather in the interior. From now on, if checked on the options list, you will only find imitation leather. Completely contemporary, of course.
Online sales
More details on equipment levels and options are bound to follow. Volvo can already announce that the C40 will go into production in Ghent next fall, side-by-side with the XC40. Special: from the factory on the C40s not to the Volvo showrooms. The Swedes report that the C40 is only offered online. A concept that we know from sister brand Lynk & Co. However, we assume that – following the example of Lynk & Co – C40s can still be physically viewed at some points in the country, so that you at least get an idea of ​​what you are buying. Very nice. Prices of the C40 Recharge will follow in the run-up to the market launch. You can count on it that it will be just a bit more expensive than the XC40 P8 Recharge, which is currently available from more than € 55,000.