Volvo has reworked its XC40 and C40 Recharge electric cars to give them more range and power, as well as faster charging. The two SUVs can practically cover a hundred more kilometers thanks to a few small developments.
For many years, Volvo has been a strong believer in electrics and hybrids. And the Swedish brand is now one of the few, apart from specialized manufacturers like Tesla, to only offer electrified models in its French range.
Electric, of course, but also plug-in hybrids and 48-volt hybrid systems in some vehicles. And while waiting for the arrival of the future EX90, replacing the XC90 unveiled a few weeks earlier, and the next Volvo EX30, the brand continues to develop its electric range.
Increased autonomy
As a reminder, this is currently made up of the XC40 and C40 Recharge, the latter being neither more nor less than a coupé version of the former, the two sharing thehas the same CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) technical basis as well as the same characteristics. So when the brand decides to offer some improvements to its electric range, both benefit at the same time.
This is precisely what is happening, as revealed by the journalists of the English site Coach. The latter indeed announce that the two models offer themselves some technical evolutions, in particular in order to propose a autonomy increased by a hundred kilometers. The C40 Recharge can therefore now travel between 507 and 533 kilometers according to the WLTP mixed cycle depending on the version, while the XC40 can reach 500 to 515 kilometers, due to its less aerodynamic silhouette. Compared to the 449 km and 434 km of autonomy of the versions currently marketed, the gain is substantial.
An increase that we owe in particular to a modification in the traction chain, while the power is now only sent to the rear wheels on the version with a single engine, which becomes pure propulsion. On the other hand, the Recharge Twin version equipped with two electric motors retains its four-wheel-drive configurationand sees its autonomy also increase.
And this thanks to the arrival of a new battery of 82 kWh gross (78 kWh net), up 3 kWh, which will be installed under the floor of this version. This will then equip a new Single Motor Extended Range version, with propulsion, which will be placed just above the entry-level variant for a maximum autonomy of 533 km. The basic version then retains its 67 kWh pack but does not see its autonomy evolve: only the performance is on the rise.
Revised power
But that’s not all. Indeed, Volvo has also improved the charging power of its two electric SUVs, which then goes from 150 to 200 kW. Please note that this increase only concerns the Twin version. So the time it takes to go from 10% to 80% is down one minute to just 27 minutes. Admittedly, we are far from the 18 minutes of the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, but it is still very significant.
The power of the single-engine version has also been increased, from 231 to 238 horsepower while the XC40 and C40 Recharge Twin retain their 408 horsepower. Nevertheless, the site Electricity specifies that the distribution between the front and rear engines has been slightly modified. Instead of each developing 150 kW (about 204 horsepower), the front one goes to 180 kW (about 245 horsepower) while the one installed at the rear has 120 kW (about 136 horsepower).
For some months now, some models of the Swedish brand have also been compatible with remote OTA updates, and the XC40 and C40 Recharge are among them. Thus, they can take advantage of the latest improvements without having to go to the workshop. These should relate to autonomy, but also to the infotainment system, now provided by Google.
For the time being, Volvo France has not communicated on these developments, which concern all units ordered since December 1, while the first deliveries will be made in May for the Twin versions. Single-engine variants will arrive next fall. According Electricity, the XC40 Recharge range will then start in Germany, from 47,500 euros while the Twin version will display an entry ticket at 59,950 euros. As a reminder, the electric SUV is currently trading for 43,950 euros in France.
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