Stylish And Blistering Quick Electric Volvo C40 Recharge Launched In India At Rs 61.25 Lakh

• Volvo C40 Recharge launched at Rs 61.25 lakh.

• It is based on the XC40 Recharge SUV and carries a premium of Rs 4.35 lakh over it.

• 78kWh battery pack sends juice to dual electric motors producing 408PS/660Nm.

• Claimed WLTP range is 530km | 0-100kmph in 4.7 seconds.

• Leather-free cabin uses recycled materials.

• Gets a fixed panoramic sunroof, digital screens, and Level 3 ADAS.

Volvo has expanded its electric lineup in India with the launch of the C40 Recharge. Priced at Rs 61.25 lakh for its fully loaded single trim, it carries a premium of Rs 4.35 lakh over the XC40 Recharge SUV , which is priced at Rs 56.9 lakh (ex-showroom). Both the offerings are similar, save for the coupe-ish roofline of the C40 Recharge, which helps it stand out from the XC40 Recharge, but there are a few more distinguishing factors underneath the skin.

Design

Similarities with the XC40 Recharge are apparent at the front facade with the closed upper grille, sharp LED headlights with Thor’s hammer signature for the DRLs, and the three-piece bumper which houses the flanking fog lamps.

The side profile is identical as well, with the same body contour and alloy wheels, save for the obvious party trick of the C40 Recharge – the sloping roofline. It sits on huge 19-inch alloy wheels, which fill up the wheel arches rather nicely.

The design is rather unique at the rear. The C40 Recharge’s sloping roofline combines tiny spoiler spats at the beginning of the raked windscreen along with a tailgate-mounted spoiler. These spoiler elements gel well with the sleek C-shaped taillights which welcome you with a waterfall-like animation, everytime you lock/unlock the car. 

Cabin and features

The cabin layout in itself is rather minimalistic, but that isn’t a bad thing at all. Firstly, there’s no leather, as Volvo claims that the cabin is free of any leather whatsoever. The materials used involve recycled substances (such as PET bottles, wine-bottle corks, and naturally fallen trees/branches) all around the cabin. 

As for the theme, there’s no black and beige contrasting hues, just an all-black cabin or the option of a black/dark blue. The 9-inch portrait-styled infotainment is driver-oriented and is flanked by sleek vertical air vents which get a metallic finish. You won’t find any dedicated buttons for the aircon control as those have been incorporated into the screen.

There are a bunch of creature comforts that come with the Volvo C40 Recharge, including a fixed panoramic sunroof, 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, powered front seats (with a memory setting for the driver), dual-zone climate control, wireless phone charging, Harman Kardon sound system, and a powered tailgate. Its infotainment even gets an in-built Google operating system, which negates the need for you to connect your phone for functions such as navigation and music control via Spotify.

Fun fact: The in-built Google navigation which show the percentage of charge you’ll have left at the end of a particular trip

Safety is taken care of by eight airbags, ABS with EBD, 360-degree camera and it even features Level-3 ADAS which boasts functionalities like adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring system, and a parking assistant.

Powertrain

The C40 Recharge carries forward the same 78kWh battery pack from the XC40 Recharge SUV, but with updated tech. As a result, it has a better WLTP claimed range of 530km, which is an increase over its SUV counterpart by XXkm. The dual electric motors have an output of 408PS/660Nm, but with a 40:60 front and rear power ratio split instead of the XC40’s 50:50 split.  

Also improved is the 0-100kmph time, which takes 0.2 seconds (4.7seconds) less than the already quick XC40 Recharge. Fast charging with a 150kW DC charger will allow for a 10-80 percent recharge time of 27 minutes.

Also Read: Tesla Takes Wraps Off Revised Model 3 With Shaper Styling

So the Volvo C40 Recharge sports a sportier alternative to its SUV counterpart, for those who might lean a bit more towards style and form. And you won’t have to break the bank for the additional flamboyance too! It’ll sit below the XC60 in Volvo’s India lineup, and will be an alternative to the Kia EV6.