Volvo Car Australia has confirmed the recently revealed updated version of its XC40 and C40 Recharge electric crossovers will be arriving in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Highlights of this particular update include the single-motor variants switching to rear-wheel drive, and the dual-motor all-wheel drive variants becoming rear-biased.
The local 2024 Volvo XC40 and C40 Recharge lineup is yet to be confirmed, but they currently each consist of a single, front-wheel drive variant, and a dual-motor all-wheel drive variant.
The Australian pricing of the updated electric crossovers hasn’t been confirmed either, but almost the entire Volvo lineup received a price rise at the start of 2023 due to increased logistics and raw material costs.
C40 Recharge
The Volvo XC40 Recharge currently starts at $73,900 before on-road costs for the single-motor variant, and extends to $81,490 before on-roads for the dual-motor variant.
The C40 Recharge on the other hand starts at $75,990 before on-road costs for the single-motor variant, and extends to $83,490 before on-roads for the dual-motor variant.
As previously reported, two new single-motor rear-wheel drive powertrains will be offered in the XC40 and C40 Recharge according to the global press release, replacing the existing single-motor front-wheel drive powertrain.
It’s the first time Volvo has offered a rear-wheel drive car since 1998, when it retired the flagship S90 and V90 – renamed versions of the 960.
XC40 Recharge
The entry-level model’s rear-mounted electric motor producing 175kW of power, which is 5kW more than the outgoing front-wheel drive variant’s front-mounted electric motor. A torque figure isn’t provided.
Volvo claims the XC40 and C40 Recharge Single Motor RWD can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.4 seconds, and flat out you’ll be electronically limited to 180km/h.
The 69kWh lithium-ion battery pack carries over, with the XC40 Recharge Single Motor RWD having a claimed range of 460km according to WLTP testing, and the C40 Recharge Single Motor RWD having a claimed range of 476km. These represent increases of 35km and 38km, respectively.
These entry-level single-motor variants can DC fast-charge at a maximum rate of 130kW, and Volvo claims they will take approximately 34 minutes to go from 10 to 80 per cent.
There’s also a new Single Motor Extended Range model which uses a more powerful rear-mounted electric motor producing 185kW. A torque figure isn’t provided.
Volvo claims the XC40 and C40 Recharge Single Motor Extended Range RWD can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.4 seconds as well.
This new variant comes with an 82kWh battery pack that boosts range in the XC40 Recharge Single Motor Extended Range RWD to 515km, according to WLTP testing, and to 533km in the C40 Recharge Single Motor Extended Range RWD.
These extended-range rear-wheel drive models can DC fast-charge at a maximum rate of 200kW, and Volvo claims they will take 28 minutes to go from 10 to 80 per cent.
The last models to receive some powertrain updates are the XC40 and C40 Recharge Twin Motor AWD.
These models now receive an in-house developed permanent magnet electric motor on the rear axle that produces 183kW and a new asynchronous electric motor on the front axle that produces 117kW. Total system output power and torque figures haven’t been provided.
The outgoing dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain in the electric XC40 and C40 used two 150kW electric motors.
Volvo claims the updated XC40 and C40 Twin Motor AWD can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.9 and 4.7 seconds, respectively.
The dual-motor all-wheel drive variants also have a 82kWh battery pack with the XC40 Recharge Twin Motor AWD having a claimed range of 500km, according to WLTP testing, and the C40 Recharge Twin Motor AWD having a claimed range of 507km. These are increases of 62km and 56km, respectively.
Beyond the electric powertrain and battery changes, the Volvo XC40 and C40 Recharge now receive some exterior changes to “improve efficiency where possible”. As an example, there’s a new 19-inch alloy wheel option that’s claimed to help reduce drag.
MORE: Everything Volvo XC40
MORE: Everything Volvo C40
