Volvo unveiled the C40 Recharge coupe-SUV in India today, which is its second all-electric vehicle after the XC40 Recharge SUV that launched last year. The company also announced that the C40 Recharge will go on sale this August, with bookings opening online soon after and deliveries commencing in September.
- C40 Recharge is the XC40 Recharge SUV's coupe sibling
- Remains mechanically unchanged from the XC40 Recharge SUV
- C40 Recharge's interior is 100 percent leather-free
Volvo C40 Recharge exterior design
The C40 Recharge looks largely similar to its SUV counterpart, the XC40 Recharge, save for its rear, where the roofline has a coupe-like finish and a steeply raked rear windscreen. This has led to the tail gate and tail-lamp assembly being redesigned. The tail-lamps here are a lot slimmer, have a wider wraparound effect and get new reverse lights. The LED light elements are segmented towards the top – beside the windshield – instead of the continuous strip found on the XC40 Recharge. Unlike the SUV, the LEDs also protrude into the tail gate and the overall design gives the C40 Recharge's rear a much wider stance.
There’s also a new two-part spoiler – one on the boot lid that’s blacked out and one on the roof with a unique twin-pod design aimed at improving aerodynamics. And while the bumper remains unchanged from the SUV, the rear design of the C40 Recharge looks a lot busier and sportier than the XC40 Recharge. Additionally, the window line has also been slightly redesigned due to the sloping roofline. The C40 Recharge also exclusively gets Pixel LED headlights that you'll not find in any other Volvo in India yet.
Elsewhere, the C40 Recharge remains unchanged from its SUV sibling: the headlamps with Thor’s hammer LED Daytime Running Lamps; the front bumper and hood; the contouring on the doors; and the dual-tone 19-inch alloy wheels.
Volvo C40 Recharge interior and features
On the inside, the dashboard design is typically Volvo and, unsurprisingly, is identical to the XC40 Recharge. It continues with a 9.0-inch portrait-style touchscreen flanked by slim AC vents, wood inlays on the dashboard and a fully digital instrument cluster. The quality of materials and fit and finish remains as good as you’d expect from Volvo.
As far as equipment is concerned, the C40 Recharge gets an Android-based infotainment system with direct access to Google Maps and Assistant, and several apps from the PlayStore with the help of an onboard e-SIM. It also gets a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, 360-degree camera, a full suite of sensor-based ADAS tech with autonomous driving, connected car tech, powered front seats with driver-side memory function and heating and cooling, a dual-zone climate control and a premium Harman Kardon sound system.
The C40’s Recharge’s boot space, however, has gone down to 413 litres from the SUV’s 452 litres, although the 31-litre frunk space remains unchanged. The rear seat headroom will also have gone down the sloping roofline. Notably, Volvo claims that the C40’s interior is completely leather-free, in line with the brand’s aim to eliminate leather from all its electric cars by 2025 to reduce animal harm and carbon emissions.
Volvo C40 Recharge powertrain and specs
The underpinnings and powertrain configuration also remain unchanged from the XC40 Recharge. Based on the CMA platform (Compact Modular Architecture), the C40 Recharge in India gets a dual-motor set-up – one on each axle – with a 78kWh battery pack for a claimed range of 530km in a single charge on the WLTP cycle. Interestingly, the range has shot up massively over the SUV's claimed 418km range, thanks to a newer generation battery and better aerodynamics.
The two electric motors give it all-wheel-drive capability and, combined, produce 408hp and 660Nm of torque. Volvo claims it can sprint from 0-100kph in 4.7 seconds which is 0.2 seconds faster than the XC40 Recharge. The C40 Recharge is capable of fast charging with a 150kW DC charger that can top up its batteries from 0 to 100 percent in 27 minutes.
Volvo C40 Recharge rivals
Upon launch, the C40 Recharge will compete with the Kia EV6 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Like its SUV counterpart, the C40 will be locally assembled, but it’s expected to be priced at a slight premium over its XC40 Recharge, which, for reference, is currently priced at Rs 56.90 lakh, ex-showroom. Although there aren’t any electric coupe-SUVs in this price range, there are a few ICE coupe-SUVs available for a similar price like the Audi Q3 Sportback and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe.
Uday Singh
Dipan Sur
Glenn Noronha
Viraaj Bhatnagar
