Swedish carmaker Volvo unveiled its first full-electric offering in late 2019 within the sort of the XC40 Recharge. It’s supported the most recent addition to the carmaker’s portfolio, the XC40 compact SUV that was unveiled in 2017 and went on sale in India in 2018. At the revealing of the new-gen S60 for India, Volvo has now confirmed that the XC40 Recharge are going to be launched in India in 2021.
“Recharge” is that the variant suffix for future all-electric variants in Volvo’s lineup. The XC40 Recharge features an AWD powertrain with a claimed range of 400km on one charge as per the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) test cycle. it’s no slouch either, with an output of 414PS which should make it quite zippy for getting up to highway speeds and straightforward overtakes.
The batteries are housed under the ground of the car, between the axles, and may be fast-charged from empty to 80 percent in only 40 minutes. While it’s going to get cheaper variants in other countries, it’s likely to be offered within the top-spec P8 variant as described here. Currently, the XC40 is out there in India during a single T4 R-Design variant priced at Rs 39.90 lakh (ex-showroom) which uses a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 193PS and 300Nm
Visual differences for the XC40 Recharge included a body-coloured panel for the covered grille, new alloy wheels and thicker rear cladding. the inside seems unchanged over the combustion-engine variants and therefore the XC40 will still be full of many safety features including advanced driver systems. Its infotainment system is claimed to feature a replacement Android-based OS with various Google features embedded into it along side connected car technology, and can receive over-the-air updates
Volvos are a premium offering in India and therefore the all-electric XC40 will likely get a steep tag too. Expect the XC40 Recharge to cost north of Rs 50 lakh (ex-showroom) when launched in India. it might still be cheaper than luxury electric SUVs just like the Mercedes-Benz EQC and upcoming Audi e-tron which are closer to the Rs 1 crore mark, making it appeal to those that need a high-end EV experience during a non-German brand.