Volvo’s new C40 Recharge launched in Singapore

Surrey Hills Grocer, Singapore - This is it, the all new Volvo C40 Recharge. The second fully electric vehicle in the Volvo lineup and a car that embodies Volvo’s commitment to sustainability, having been designed to be a fully electric coupe SUV from the get go.

The C40 Recharge is what you’d get if you take the front half, front doors and cabin of an XC40, mate it to a sloping roof and a steeply raked tail end. The front fascia sports a new bezel-less grille and more angular "Thor's Hammer" headlamps that now incorporate pixel technology, a first for the Swedish marque.

Still unmistakably Volvo, albeit given the coupe treatment. However, the similarities between this new coupe SUV and the XC40 aren’t just skin deep.

This coupe SUV shares remarkably similar traits with the XC40 Recharge, and by extension the Polestar 2. All of which are built atop the same Common Modular Architecture (CMA) platform.

Which brings us onto the safety features of the car. If you’ve been in and around Volvos for the past two decades, you’d know that the brand typically aces European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) tests. True enough, the C40 Recharge is no exception, scoring a five star rating in the 2022 Euro NCAP tests. The new car also sees the addition of Volvo’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), which includes collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control with pilot assist, blind spot and lane watching systems to name a few.

Underpinning the C40 Recharge Pure Twin, is a 78kWh battery pack mounted between the axles for an almost 50:50 weight distribution and a dual motor electric drivetrain. Combined, the motors produce a total output of 408 horsepower and 660Nm of torque. Similar power figure as the XC40 Recharge. However, the C40 is quicker to 100km/h, completing the century sprint in 4.7 seconds (the XC40 Recharge Twin Motor does the same sprint on 4.9 seconds).

The C40 Recharge’s electrical consumption is rated at 21kWh/100km, which allows you to travel up to 450km on a full charge. In optimal conditions (with the right charger), the C40 takes just 28 minutes to be juiced up from 10% to 80% with a fast charger. Max charging rates for the C40 are 11kW for AC charging and 150kW for DC charging.

If that isn’t enough green credibility for you consider this: Every C40 will be vegan friendly. Regardless of specification or trim options, every C40 that rolls off the production line will contain no leather. So it’s no stretch to say that no animals were harmed in the making of this car.

So what’s the cost for stylish, vegan-friendly and fully electric motoring? S$279,000. More steeply-priced than its less coupe-ish sibling, but you are getting a lot for your dollar’s worth. Plus the added benefit of having a cruelty-free car.

PHOTOS Jay Tee