Volvo C40 Recharge: hello electric SUV coming to Argentina

Ang Volvo C40 Recharge This is the first model of the Swedish brand designed to switch exclusively using electricity and its arrival in the region and in Argentina has already been confirmed. Now we are behind the wheel of this car that draws attention to its figure and convinces in its performance.

The industry has made a firm decision and the energy that will drive most vehicles in the future is electricity. But as with everything there are nuances: some are doing it in a more conservative way and others are completely accelerating the transformation.

One of these is Volvo, which has decided to bet on everything in electromobility and has in the new C40 Recharge the model where it aims to advance its overall conversion to electromobility.

It is also the vehicle chosen by the Swedish brand the flag of this new era for our region. And even though Argentina shows a huge inconvenience in importing vehicles (especially for importer companies only, as in this case), this model already has an arrival date on the local market.

Optimism in a complex scenario

“The idea is to double our sales in Argentina during 2022,” commented Luis Rezende, director of Volvo Cars for Latin America, during the region’s launch event. By 2021, approximately 150 units have been patented in the country and the year is expected to close with 300 copies.

But from the Swedish brand, they recognize that the import problems in Argentina and the times of homologation are two limitations shown by the local market. In fact, the C40 Recharge is now in the process of homologation.

The arrival of this new model in Argentina is directly dependent on these factors, but it is estimated that by the end of this year or the beginning of 2023 it will be available on the local market, according to Eximar, the importer now has representation of Volvo in our country.

In line with this approach and as a preview of the technology the company intends to offer, it plans the local launch of a series of models plug-in hybrids.

These are gasoline-powered vehicles and an electric engine that modifies or integrates their operation, and which, in turn, has a battery pack that can be plugged in to recharge them and ensures a certain autonomy. without consuming fuel.

The strategy is clear and strong in terms of electromobility for years to come: the company thinks that by 2025 50% of its sales will be from electrified models around the world and no combustion engines from 2030.

In our region there are examples that respond to this plan, because in Brazil and Uruguay 100% of the Swedish brand’s offer is electrified, either hybrid or fully electric models.

Attractive and avant-garde

It’s not the Swedish brand’s first 100% electric model, as the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric has appeared before, but it’s the first thought not to offer options with combustion engines.

This C40 Recharge measures 4.4 meters long, 1.87 wide and 1.59 high. It is a stylish car crossover trying to cross the figure of an SUV with the silhouette of a coupe; hence the particular fall shown by the roof in the rear sector.

The style is clearly recognizable in the stylistic gestures that the company currently has, but there are details that accentuate it.

For example, it is declared that it is electric because of it fully covered grill, giving it an image of very strong solidity. And the rear LED lights that start with a continuous line and then turn into a dotted line are very noticeable.

The vehicle displays the figure associated with that idea of ​​the elegant simplicity of Nordic design, resulting in clean and well -defined surfaces. In this way, the rear spoilers somewhat ruin that harmony.

It will come in regional markets equipped with two machines, one on the front axle and one on the rear, which will give you four-wheel drive. Between them they deliver the combined power of 408 horses and a torque (maximum force moment) of 660 Nm. It’s more than a powerful pickup offers.

With these numbers, a clear urban vehicle is capable of speeding 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. Maximum speed is limited to 180 km/h, not only as a matter of energy optimization, but also as part of the decision made by the Swedish brand for its entire range to contribute to vehicle safety.

It carries a 75 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that allows it to climb on 444 kilometers for each chargeand at least those are their homologation numbers.

But one thing is to read the technical sheet and another to get behind the wheel of this model. Clarion he managed it before he came to Argentina.

New things start as soon as you get in the car, because there isn’t even a single button to make the system available to the driver: a sensor in the driver’s seat recognizes that there’s someone sitting and trying to “talk” to the key; if it recognizes, everything will start working.

From there, just flick the small selector on the center console and the C40 is ready. It has no driving modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, etc.), which makes it all or nothing. But the transmission of power and torque from the engines, which are very high, is managed based on the energy with which one steps on the accelerator.

That is why you can make a serene, very comfortable and extremely quiet trip, perfect for every day in the city. But if you press the accelerator hard, Dr. Jekyll became Mr. Hyde: The C40 becomes a steamroller, with amazing ease of picking up speed and reaching a top speed of 180 km/h in a snap.

To accompany, the dynamic behavior is surprising with the agility it displays. It is able to bend very quickly and there is always a sense of following the ground which is not uncommon in a model of these proportions. There is no doubt that the performance of this Volvo will leave anyone who can drive it with their mouth open.

Inside, minimalism is extreme, even exaggerated. So to select driving functions, such as increasing regenerative braking, you need to go through several screens, so It is not recommended to do this with the car moving.

Its connectivity system has the particularity of having full integration with Google, which allows the use of native Google Maps navigation and the voice assistant that will allow control of certain functions of the vehicle, such as air conditioning.

Although initially there won’t be many units, it’s hard to pinpoint now at what price this model will come up with. The only concrete thing is that it is a model that admires its image and is surprising in its performance.

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