Yahoo Autos The Volvo C40 Recharge Is a Crossover Coupe EV that Actually Looks Cool
Today is a big day for Volvo. First, the brand announced that it would be all-electric by 2030, doing away with internal-combustion entirely and that it was moving to an all-online sales model. And to herald a new era, the company revealed the C40 Recharge, a coupe version of the electric XC40 Recharge crossover.
Unlike most crossover coupes, the C40 Recharge actually looks quite cool, almost like a fastback sedan on stilts. Though from the B-pillar forward, it looks almost identical to the XC40, which is no bad thing. Mechanically, it's identical, too, riding on the same CMA platform that underpins the Polestar 2 and gas-powered XC40. It has a 75-kWh battery pack that powers an electric motor on each axle for a total of 402 hp. EPA range is estimated to be 210 miles.
The C40 gets some unique interior trim and it's entirely leather-free, as will be the case with every future Volvo electric car. Like the XC40 Recharge and Polestar 2, the C40 also gets the clever new Android-based operating system, which integrates features like Google Maps directly into the infotainment system. And there won't be a gas-powered version of the C40—it's the first Volvo to be designed solely as an electric car.
This is a preview of where Volvo is headed. The Swedish company announced last night that it aims to be all-electric by 2030, joining a number of automakers in making similar commitments this year. "To remain successful, we need profitable growth. So instead of investing in a shrinking business, we choose to invest in the future—electric and online," Volvo boss Håkan Samuelsson said in a statement. "We are fully focused on becoming a leader in the fast-growing premium electric segment."
Volvo aims for half its sales by 2025 to be all-electric cars, with the remaining 50 percent hybrid. And by 2030, it will have built its last internal-combustion engine. In the process, Volvo will also transform the way it sells cars, moving to an online-only sales model for its EVs, with fixed pricing and a "care package" included with every car, which consists of servicing, warranty, roadside assistance, and in some markets, insurance. It's an expansion of the brand's successful Care by Volvo subscription service. This move doesn't mean Volvo is cutting out traditional dealers, though, as Volvo will use them for deliveries, servicing, and more. The thinking seems to be offering customers a better purchasing experience without alienating dealer franchises.
So over the next few years, expect more electric Volvos. In the luxury segment, Volvo is joining Jaguar and Cadillac in going all-electric by the end of the decade, and we expect a lot more high-end EVs to arrive in the coming years.
You Might Also Like
