Swedish automaker Volvo has updated its X40 and C40 models with new variants now boasting higher range and shorter charging times compared to the outgoing models, increasing range by as much as 41 miles in some cases.
The company has also introduced three new powertrains on the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge variants. These include two rear-wheel-drive variants as well as a revised all-wheel-drive performance model, it said.
The two new rear-wheel-drive powertrains are equipped with a 175kW permanent magnet electric motor (e-motor), which provides a 3% increase in power output over the outgoing 170kW single-motor front-wheel-drive variant, the company said.
In the XC40 single motor, the same 69kWh battery capacity is carried over, but enhancements in cooling efficiency mean it can now deliver increased range and drive up to 286 miles according to the WLTP test cycle, compared with 264 miles before. The range of the C40 Recharge single motor, meanwhile, improves up to 296 miles from 272 miles. A 10-80% charge takes approximately 34 minutes using a 130kW DC public charger, it said.
The range and power can be enhanced using a larger battery coupled with a more powerful 185kW permanent magnet e-motor on the rear axle, although this will not be available in the UK. This second new variant comes with an 82kWh battery pack, which boosts range up to 320 miles for the XC40 Recharge single motor extended range and up to 331 miles (WLTP) for the C40 Recharge single motor extended range, it said. The larger battery pack allows for charging at an updated top rate of 200kW DC (previously 150kW DC maximum), enabling a 10-80% charge in approximately 28 minutes.
“Range and charging times are new key factors for more and more of our customers, and these improvements make our fully electric models even more attractive than they already were,” Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Javier Varela said.
The company’s all-wheel-drive variants also benefit from the above updates. The previous set-up of two 150kW e-motors on the front and rear axles has been replaced by the brand’s in-house-developed 183kW permanent magnet e-motor on the rear axle and a new 117kW asynchronous electric motor on the front axle, the company said.
The new configuration, paired with an 82kWh battery pack and overall efficiency improvements in battery cooling, means the XC40 Recharge Twin Motor AWD can now drive up to 311 miles on a single charge, a 39-mile boost over the previous iteration. The range of the C40 Recharge Twin Motor AWD has improved up to 315 miles from 280 miles (WLTP), the company said.
Exterior updates also help to improve efficiency where possible. For example, a new 19-inch alloy wheel for both XC40 and C40 Recharge not only boosts the overall look of the models, but it also helps to reduce drag through its aerodynamic design, the company said.