What happens if you take a Volvo XC40 and give it sleeker, more coupe-like proportions as well as an all-electric drivetrain?
The C40 Recharge is what happens - and it’s the latest emissions-free vehicle from Volvo as the firm continues its mission to go fully electric by 2030.
The C40 Recharge shares the same platform as the compact XC40 SUV, which is also available as a fully-electric model, but there are major differences between the two cars.
The C40 sits 70mm lower than the XC40, there’s a new front end, and a striking rear combines with a lower, more rakish roof line.
There are further innovations inside the cabin.
Volvo says the C40 is their first ever car to be ‘completely leather free’ - which means there’s a whole host of other fabrics in the interior, available in a range of different colour options.
Like the XC40 Recharge, the C40 Recharge comes with one of the best infotainment systems on the market, jointly developed with Google and based on the Android operating system. It provides consumers with Google apps and services built-in, such as Google Maps, Google Assistant and the Google Play Store. Meanwhile unlimited data means constant software updates over the air.
Power wise, the C40 should prove pacey.
Twin motors drive both the front and rear axles, with a 78kWh lithium-ion battery providing the grunt. That should equate to power of around 400 PS, with a 0-62mph time of just 4.9 seconds.
The C40 will also have a range of around 260 miles from a single charge, while replenishing the battery should be simple, too, with an 80 per cent charge taking just 40 minutes on a 150kW charger.
Henrik Green, Chief Technology Officer at Volvo Cars, said: “The C40 Recharge represents the future of Volvo and shows where we are going. It is fully electric, offered online only with a convenient care package and will be available for quick delivery. Getting a new Volvo was never this attractive.”
If you can’t wait for the C40 to go into production, then the fully-electric XC40 Recharge is worth a look instead - as it’s essentially the same car underneath.
The XC40 might be the smallest SUV in the Volvo range, behind the XC60 and XC90, but a large 452 litre boot means it’s more than practical enough for family needs - and it looks the part, too.
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