Volvo C40 Recharge, the electric car that can only be booked online

Volvo C40 Recharge is Volvo's second electric car (and the first to be purely electric), aiming to have a full electric range by 2030 and half electric range by 2025 (with the other half consisting of hybrid models). Certainly an ambitious goal, which the Swedish company has decided to pursue because it is convinced that heat engine cars have no future, also suffocated by increasingly stringent European standards in terms of consumption and emissions.

And on the contrary, the high-end electric segment is seen as much more attractive, as is the business of online commerce. Not surprisingly, the Volvo C40 Recharge can only be bought online as well as all future electric-only Volvos . All this is functional to a strategy that provides for a simplification of the product range and related prices, and the development of a whole series of services for customers that takes the name of Care By Volvo.

Production of the Volvo C40 Recharge will kick off this fall and will be built together with the XC40 Recharge at the Volvo Cars plant in Ghent, Belgium.

Volvo C40 Recharge: exterior

The Volvo C40 Recharge, while closely related to the XC40, differs from the latter for its SUV coupé line, along the lines of competing models such as the BMW X2 or the Audi Q3 Sportback (although these two are not electric. belong to the same segment as the C40). It is a sport utility coupé with fairly compact dimensions:

• length: 443.1 cm
• width: 203.5 cm (mirrors included)
• height: 158.2 cm

The style is that of the Volvo of the new course started under the management of the Geely, which is characterized by a certain aesthetic cleanliness. The imposing front, similar to that of the XC40, has the classic Volvo grille, but closed (since it is an electric). The headlights have Thor's hammer light signature, like the other models in the range, and can boast the brand new Pixel technology. In the lower part there is a trapezoidal grid, of contained dimensions, and the secondary optical groups.

The side view highlights the SUV coupé line with the roof that at the height of the B pillar descends gently towards the truncated tail, with the result of having a rather sloping rear window. The wheel arches and the lower part of the body have black plastic guards.

Behind the C40 Recharge presents as anticipated (small) strongly tilted rear window and the truncated tail. At the base of the rear window we find a flap that gives a touch of sportiness, as well as the double spoiler which is located in the upper part at both ends. Particular the shape of the lights, which highlights the width of the car, being flush with the bodywork (forming an L) and then re-entering towards the center.

All-wheel drive and autonomy exceeding 400 km

The C40 Recharge, despite being the first Volvo to be born exclusively as an electric car, does not use a new base , which is in fact the well-known CMA. This is the modular platform that has been used since 2017, and which has been the basis for cars that are currently in the range of the Gothenburg house such as the XC40 and XC60.

Volvo C40 Recharge can count on two electric motors , one per axle (thus having electric all-wheel drive). Both engines develop a power of 150 kW, for a total power which is therefore equal to 300 kW. The maximum torque delivered is instead of 660 Nm (330 Nm for each engine). Electric motors have to push a car that is certainly not light, having an empty weight of 2185 kg. Nevertheless, the performance is good, as the C40 Excharge sprints from 0 to 100 km / h in just 4.9 seconds and reaches 180 km / h (self-limited).

The interior of the Volvo C40 Recharge

Inside, the Volvo C40 Recharge holds no particular surprises, since it is identical to the XC40 Recharge. We therefore find a dashboard dominated by the large tablet placed vertically from which most of the car's functions are managed flanked by the peculiar vertical air conditioning vents, while lower down there is a platform with a few controls. The infotelematic system is developed on the basis of the Android operating system , and consequently provides various Google services, such as Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play Store. It is then upgradeable Over The Air, so it can only improve over time. The driver then finds in front of him a digital panel with customizable graphics (in the photo you can see, for example, that the maps are highlighted).

As for the space for passengers, it should not vary significantly from that available on the XC40 Recharge, except for a (probable) decrease in height space for the passengers who will sit in the back. Finally, luggage space is 413 liters with the rear seats in use, plus the 31 liters obtained from the front cockpit.

Volvo C40 Rehcharge: price and availability

Volvo has not yet stated the price of the C40 Recharge, although a starting price can still be assumed based on that of the XC40 Recharge. The latter has a price list that starts at 59,750 euros, so you can think of a starting price for the Volvo C40 Recharge above 60,000 euros (between 63,000 and 65,000 euros). No information has been released on the fittings (and the related options) and on the availability of the car which, let us remember, can only be ordered online, like all the models that will make up the Recharge range (currently consisting of C40 and XC40). However, we do know that customers will be able to choose seven types of body paint.

The article Volvo C40 Recharge, the electric that can only be booked online comes from Tech CuE | Close-up Engineering .