After a 25 year hiatus, Volvo is embracing rear-wheel drive once again.
The move was announced as part of an update to the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge. The EVs are getting three new powertrains including two rear-wheel drive variants, which will become the first RWD Volvos since 1998.
The new lineup begins with a rear-mounted 235 hp (175 kW / 238 PS) electric motor, which replaces a front-mounted motor that developed 228 hp (170 kW / 231 PS). It enables the C40 and XC40 to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 7.4 seconds and hit a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h).
Also: Volvo Introduces Cheaper, Single-Motor C40 Recharge, Facelifts XC40 Recharge
More importantly, the XC40 Recharge sees its range increase from 425 km to 460 km, in the WLTP cycle, despite featuring a familiar 69 kWh battery pack. In the United States, that should result in an EPA range of 240 miles. Likewise, the C40 Recharge can now travel up to 476 km in the WLTP cycle or 245 miles under the EPA.
Customers looking for more range can get a larger 82 kWh battery pack, which is paired with a rear-mounted motor developing 248 hp (185 kW / 252 PS). While the motor has extra oomph, the dash to 62 mph (100 km/h) still takes 7.4 seconds and the top speed remains 112 mph (180 km/h). That’s not great, but the WLTP range increases to 520 km for the XC40 Recharge and 530 km for the C40 Recharge. In America, drivers can expect an EPA range of up to 275 miles.
Besides being able to go the distance, the Extended Range variants have improved charging technology. The models now support DC fast charging at 200 kW, which is 50 kW more than their predecessor and apparently 70 kW more than the entry-level rear-wheel drive variants.
Customers seeking the added performance and traction of all-wheel drive will find a new dual-motor setup. While the outgoing models had 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) motors front and rear, the new versions have a 157 hp (117 kW /159 PS) motor up front and a 245 hp (183 kW / 249 PS) motor out back.
The motors are paired to an 82kWh battery pack, which benefits from “overall efficiency improvements” in cooling. Thanks to the changes, the XC40 Recharge Twin Motor AWD now has a WLTP range of 500 km, while the C40 Recharge Twin Motor AWD can travel 507 km.
In terms of performance, the all-wheel drive XC40 Recharge can accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h). The C40 variant is two tenths of a second faster to 62 mph (100 km/h), but the top speed remains unchanged.
