Volvo has just unveiled its second electric vehicle — the C40 Recharge — as part of the Swedish automaker’s global strategy to transition to 100% electric vehicle sales by 2030. Engineered as a sleeker SUV, the C40 uses the same CMA vehicle platform as Volvo’s first electric vehicle, the XC40 Recharge, but features a new front design and is the first Volvo model to be completely leather-free. The C40 is available now for pre-order and will be offered through online sales only.
Unlike its XC40 Recharge predecessor, the new C40 Recharge is available as a purely electric model without the option for a gas-powered engine. The C40 Recharge comes equipped with twin electric motors — one located on the front and the other on the rear axle — powered with a 78-kWh battery that is expected to reach an 80% charge in about 40 minutes. According to preliminary targets, the range is anticipated to be around 420 kilometers, which the company says can be improved over time via over-the-air software updates.
Related: Volvo is going fully electric by 2030
These iterative software updates will be available to the car over the course of its lifespan and made possible thanks to unlimited data and superior connectivity. Updates will also apply to the car’s new Android Automotive-based infotainment system with built-in Google apps and services such as Google Maps, Google Assistant and the Google Play Store. Customers will receive a “care package” with service and warranty, roadside assistance and insurance and home-charging options. The C40 Recharge will be delivered and serviced through the automaker’s existing dealer network.
Volvo has announced plans to be a climate-neutral company by 2040 and will roll out additional electric models in the coming years to reach its goal of selling only 100% electric cars by 2030. The C40 Recharge will go into production this fall at the Volvo Cars manufacturing plant in Ghent, Belgium.
Images via Volvo
