Volvo XC40 Recharge, the upcoming electric SUV from the Swedish carmaker, recently made its India debut. Official bookings for the vehicle begin in June and its deliveries will be commenced in a phased manner from October, 2021. The company aims to achieve 80 percent sales from all-electric vehicles by 2025.
The new XC40 Recharge will be a part of the brand’s plan to double its sales volume in India with electric and petrol vehicles. Volvo has also revealed that it will launch the XC60 and S90 with petrol engine by the end of this year, followed by the C40 Recharge EV in 2022.
Powertrain of the upcoming Volvo XC40 Recharge includes a 78kWh lithium-ion battery and two 204bhp electric motors simulating permanent AWD (all-wheel-drive) system. While the battery has been fitted low in the floor, the electric motors are placed on each axle.
The combined power and torque outputs stand at 408bhp and 660Nm. The electric SUV can do 0 to 100kmph in 4.9 seconds and attain a top speed of 180kmph. The battery pack can be charged up to 80 percent in 40 minutes via DC fast charger. The electric SUV offers a WLTP-certified range of 418km on a full charge.
Similar to the regular XC40, the Volvo XC40 Recharge underpins the brand’s CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) platform. Save for a few design elements, the electric SUV looks similar to the standard model. At the front end, it carries a white-finished panel replacing the grille housing the Volvo badge. It also comes with a new set of alloy wheels. It has a small storage space of 31 litres.
In India, the Volvo XC40 Recharge won’t have any direct rival. Though, it will take on larger electric SUVs including Mercedes-Benz EQC and the upcoming Audi e-tron and Jaguar I-Pace. Compared to its petrol iteration, the electric version will be more expensive.
