In the Volvo range, a car is back that proudly bears the initials C, that of the sporty coupé: Volvo C40 2021. C40 is a SUV coupe, one of the hottest segments of the moment. Based on the XC40 compact SUV that is receiving so much praise, challenges German SUV coupes such as Audi Q3 Sportback and BMW X2. And in doing so he comes up with one very aggressive line it's a'totally electric offer: the full name is indeed Volvo C40 Recharge. So let's find out what this new Swedish proposal is made of.
- Volvo C40 2021, the return of the “coupé”. But what will the future of the Swedish company be like?
- The looks of the Volvo C40 2021: XC40 in front, Polestar behind. And the spoiler?
- The interior of the Volvo C40 2021: minimalism with an eye on practicality
- The mechanics of Volvo C40 2021 Recharge: 400 hp and 78 kWh
- Production will start in September 2021, and can only be purchased online
Volvo C40 2021, the return of the “coupé”. But what will the future of the Swedish company be like?
We had to wait 9 years for the return of the initials "C" on a Volvo, which has always defined cars with a more sporty line and nature than the other proposals of the Swedish company. Volvos equipped with this letter have always had amore particular and original soul compared to the other products of the Scandinavian house, always so rational and pragmatic.
The last member of this "family" of Swedish coupes was Volvo C30, a compact three-door segment C that most of all embodied this sound madness of the House of Gothenburg. Rival of BMW 1 Series, Volkswagen Golf and the like, the premium compact Volvo offered one unmistakable style, inspired by the progenitors 480 and 1800 ES, and a very fun driving, emphasized above all in the versions with 5-cylinder engines.
However, practicality and interior space were limited, and the car did not achieve the desired success. C30 was produced from 2006 to 2012, and in its place Volvo offered the small Compact Station Wagon V40. After 8 years of ups and downs, Volvo is now replacing its entry-level car with C40, a car that combines the practicality of the small XC40 SUV with the aesthetics and madness of the C30 and other emotional Volvos. However, C40 is available only in the Recharge version, i.e. completely electric.
By 2030, all Volvos will be electric
This is because C40 is the first Volvo model to initiate the transition to a fully electric future. So far, in fact, the electric by Volvo have been proposed under the brand Polestar. This will remain as a sportier and more refined proposal, but even Volvo will not stand by and watch.
The Swedish manufacturer has indeed stated that by 2025 at least 50% of the cars sold will be fully electric, starting with this C40 and its “sister” XC40 Recharge, while all the other cars will be hybrids. The 2030 instead it will be the year of transition: from that year, Volvo expects every car it sells to be fully electric.
“The C40 Recharge represents the future of Volvo and clearly indicates the direction in which we are going. ”, he said Henrik Green, Chief Technology Officer of the House. “It is fully electric, is offered only online with a convenient service package and will be available for quick delivery. Buying a new Volvo has never been so tempting. " Green concludes.
The looks of the Volvo C40 2021: XC40 in front, Polestar behind. And the spoiler?
Before starting in the fourth place and developing the issue of online purchase, let's see what the Volvo C40 2021 looks like starting from aesthetics. Volvo C40 is the first car of the house developed to be exclusively electric. We will not therefore see C40 petrol or hybrid: the only version available will be the Recharge, 100% electric. The relationship with the highly acclaimed XC40 compact SUV is very clear in the front, taken up almost entirely by the "sister".
We therefore have the very personal front of the XC40, dominated by the unmistakable Volvo grille and large headlights with the “Thor's hammer” light signature that we have come to know over the last decade. However, there are some news: the grille is obviously closed and made in body color, While fari they have an unprecedented technology pixel.
From the front bumper to the B-pillar, the 40 Volvo C2021 is virtually unchanged from the XC40. From here, however, everything changes. The roof line, so square and regular on the XC40, becomes soft and sinuous, with a downward trend that is not excessive but certainly pushed. With this descending line of the roof, the upward trend of the line of the rear windows common with the XC40 is even more noticeable: the side profile joins on a tail truncated and very high, which closely resembles Polestar products.
The rear lights, on the other hand, bring everything back to the Volvo universe. The full LED headlights in fact resume the vertical trend that starts from the top of the roof and reaches the middle of the tailgate, making an L-shaped design that has been a distinctive feature of all Volvos for years, starting with the first C30. Even at the level of colors, The Volvo C40 offers very special and original shades, such as the light blue called “Fjord Blue” and 6 other colors, always coupled with the contrasting black roof.
A very elegant and refined ensemble, which however is upset by the presence of one very pronounced rear spoiler. This looks almost out of place on such a stylish car, but it adds that touch of madness which we personally like very much.
The interior of the Volvo C40 2021: minimalism and sustainability, with an eye on practicality
The interior of the Volvo C40 Recharge echoes in all respects that of the XC40, starting with the carefully crafted dashboard designed with one purpose in mind: minimalism. The interior of the Volvo C40 2021 is also elegant and minimal, with a raised but comfortable driving position and suitable for all types of driver. The bridge is then dominated by the large vertical infotainment screen, another distinctive feature of every latest generation Volvo.
This incorporates the new operating system based on Android Automotive, which debuted on the electric XC40 and offers a smooth, easy and complete user experience, like the one we are used to on smartphones. Within the system they are natively present all the most popular Google services, such as Google Assistant, Maps and even the Play Store, to download apps optimized for in-car use.
In terms of space, however, if the front does not change much, the tapered roofline could create some headaches, in the true sense of the word, for the taller occupants. A price to pay for such a sporty line, and which we hope to try soon. The trunk instead it remains surprisingly unchanged from the electric XC40, with 413 liters of capacity, more further 31 in the "frunk", ie in the front trunk.
Along with space, technology and practicality, however, Volvo has also focused on sustainability. Volvo C40 2021 is indeed the first Volvo equipped exclusively with a leather-free interior, therefore free from coatings of animal origin. This does not mean that the interiors will be exclusively in fabric, on the contrary: the C40 sports seats and interiors in cruelty-free leather. Very good.
The mechanics of Volvo C40 2021 Recharge: over 400 hp and 78 kWh
We have seen how the C40 is made both inside and out: we just have to understand what it offers once on the road. The leitmotif of the kinship with XC40 is even more valid under the hood, indeed, under the floor. In fact, the Volvo C40 2021 rests on the CMA platform, the same as XC40, and the mechanics are the same as XC40 P8 Recharge.
So let's talk about a car equipped with two electric motors, one for each axis, capable of delivering 150 kW each, for one total output of 300 kW / 408 hp and 660 Nm of torque. These two motors are coupled to one 78 kWh battery positioned under the floor, which guarantees aautonomy of 420 km in mixed cycle WLTP. The recharge instead it can come up to 150 kW in direct current, with a charging time from 0 to 80% in about 40 minutes.
Performance is definitely remarkable for a car of this segment and helped by the presence of four-wheel drive given by the presence of two engines, one per axle. Acceleration 0-100 km / h is covered in just 4,9 seconds, exactly like XC40 P8 Recharge, while the maximum speed is self-limited to 180 km / h. The weight instead it is contained at approx 2185 kg. Volvo further stated that the autonomy of 420 km it will then be improved over time thanks to OTA updates, which will be released during the life of the car with improvements on battery management, engines and new features.
Production will start in September 2021, and can only be purchased online
Volvo C40 Recharge is therefore practically ready, but we will not see it immediately in Italian dealers. Production will take place in the same factory as the XC40 in Ghent, Belgium, while the first deliveries will be completed by the end of 2021. The price should be around the same figures as the XC40 Recharge, i.e. a about 60.000 euros. But the Volvo C40 2021 also has another record: is the first Volvo that can only be purchased online.
C40 Recharge will be offered with asimplified and easy-to-consult offer for the customer, both in terms of fittings and rates, comfortably from home and without the intermediation of the dealer, and with offers that include maintenance, warranty and roadside assistance, as well as insurance or city recharge.
The Volvo C40 2021 is therefore the first model that foreshadows the future of Volvo. A digital, technological and electrified future, which focuses on minimalism and pragmatism. A future that does not forget its past, however, and that offers excellent performance, a personal and very particular aesthetic, all with 0 emissions. We can't wait to try the new Volvo C40 Recharge, and to see what the future holds for Volvo. And you? What do you think? Do you like this Volvo C40? Let us know on our social channels!
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TagsVolvo C40 Volvo C40 2021 Volvo C40 Recharge Volvo C40 Recharge, the first SUV coupé challenges the Germans: sporty aesthetics and only in electric version
