It’s straightforward to overlook an important factor concerning the refreshed 2024 XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge.
These fashions, which I drove final week close to Volvo’s Gothenburg headquarters, make the rear wheels the first drive wheels for the primary time in a Volvo in many years. But they don’t look a lot completely different than their 2023 equivalents.
Like Swedes themselves, who might be understated about accomplishments, these fashions don’t flaunt what’s new on the floor or promote the magnitude of their accomplishments. However they obtain some key steps on the best way to scaling up EVs for the model. With simply sufficient cultural context, I held again the smirk as engineers identified to Inexperienced Automobile Stories at a latest preview that the autos hadn’t actually modified that a lot: new motors, some minor modifications to the battery pack, and a retune of the suspension.
2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge single-motor powertrain
Translation: it’s a little bit of an engineering feat—and maybe an trade first—contemplating that the CMA platform these fashions are constructed on favored front-wheel drive. However they sport no new badges or any of the vastly completely different trim, cladding, or staggered wheels different manufacturers can be tempted to make use of to sign the shift. New 19-inch aero alloy wheels, a few new colours, and some cabin trim variations sum up all the opposite variations for 2024 {that a} function listing is probably going to provide away.
The modifications aren’t about being seen. They’re merely to create better-driving EVs. Given the central location of EVs’ huge battery packs and their extra even weight distribution, mixed with advances in traction and stability management, Volvo sees rear-wheel drive as superior in EVs versus front-wheel drive. It’s made up its thoughts and isn’t ready for the following huge mannequin changeover to ship it.
After driving each the single- and dual-motor variations of those fashions, I’m satisfied that the majority customers are going to seek out the rear-drive model good—if not higher. It will be my very own desire over the dual-motor model.
2024 Volvo C40 Recharge
2024 Volvo C40 Recharge
2024 Volvo C40 Recharge
XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge vary and effectivity
What helps these lineups make extra sense from the get-go are the all-important numbers that customers will take into account: a driving vary now EPA-estimated at as much as 297 miles for the C40 Recharge and 293 miles for the XC40 Recharge. That’s for the single-motor rear-wheel-drive variations. Twin-motor all-wheel-drive variations now go 257 miles and 254 miles for the 2 fashions, respectively—a acquire of 31 miles for every.
That 14% enhance in vary comes with no change to the 78-kwh (gross) battery pack—though single-motor variations almost attain 300 miles thanks partly to some extra usable kwh of their new 82-kwh pack (78 kwh usable, versus 75 kwh).
With a co-driver, I coated about 160 miles on Swedish roads, cut up almost equally between a dual-motor C40 Recharge and a rear-drive XC40 Recharge. We averaged 3.4 miles per kwh with the dual-motor powertrain, then almost 3.9 miles per kwh within the single-motor model. It wasn’t an apples-to-apples comparability, although, because the latter portion of the route coated within the rear-drive model included slower-moving roads and extra site visitors, which might have in any other case doubtless improved effectivity. In both case, it indicated each variations are doubtless now in a position to return greater than 250 miles on a cost in spirited (albeit not high-speed) driving.
The larger effectivity and vary isn’t from being rear-wheel drive, both, Volvo emphasizes, however from the electrical propulsion improvement prowess it’s been constructing in-house. These refreshed fashions characterize the beginning of that.
Volvo electrical motor in C40 and XC40 Recharge
Volvo goes its personal means with EV motors
A brand new 255-hp permanent-magnet (PSM) motor in again—designed and engineered by Volvo in Sweden, and in-built Sweden for the U.S. and Europe—is the star of the powertrain. Whereas Volvo used two equivalent permanent-magnet motors from a provider within the outgoing 2023 and earlier variations of those autos, it has now shifted to a 147-hp asynchronous (induction) motor for the entrance wheels in dual-motor fashions. Volvo additionally strikes to its personal {hardware} and software program controls for the motor system, whether or not single- or dual-motor.
Single-motor fashions make 248 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, and altogether, dual-motor variations make a mixed 402 hp (identical because the 2023 mannequin) however produce a better 494 lb-ft of torque, versus their predecessors’ 487 lb-ft. As a result of the induction motor doesn’t require a cost simply to spin alongside, the configuration permits dual-motor fashions to run as rear-wheel-drive autos the overwhelming majority of the time, utilizing the entrance unit solely when it’s wanted for all-out efficiency or traction on the entrance wheels.
The motor alternative could save Volvo vital cash because it scales up its EVs and works towards a completely electrical lineup by 2030. Off-the-shelf PSM motors from suppliers might be very costly, and when one isn’t very environment friendly, it’s a double sting.
2024 Volvo C40 Recharge
In acceleration, the brand new mannequin doesn’t really feel a lot completely different. Volvo claims the identical 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds in dual-motor type, whereas single-motor variations clock in at 6.9 seconds. Each motors stay geared fairly tall, at 8.57:1, so there’s some emphasis on higher-speed passing guts over pure off-the-line oomph. Merely put, you received’t miss the additional punch of the dual-motor in the event you don’t drive it.
Volvo Recharge battery pack particulars
The 82-kwh pack appears just about equivalent to the 78-kwh pack on the skin, however it’s a special affair inside. The 78-kwh pack makes use of 27 modules, every with 4 teams of three LG pouch cells related in parallel. Within the 82-kwh pack, simply 4 a lot bigger CATL prismatic cells make up every module, with a 3rd as many whole cells for the pack. All mentioned, the CATL cells additionally deliver slight features in power density, whereas their cooling is a bit more easy, in keeping with Klas Olsson, the supervisor for these fashions’ battery system design, who summed the brand new pack as “completely different however not that completely different.”
Volvo did trace that every one variations will get the 82-kwh pack ultimately, however it mentioned that for at the least the primary full 12 months dual-motor variations will retain the 78-kwh pack as a matter of manufacturing capability.
Volvo battery pack and chassis – C40 and XC40 Recharge
Due to the battery pack distinction, single-motor variations fast-charge a bit of faster. They get from 10-80% in simply 28 minutes and attain a peak 200 kw, whereas dual-motor variations do it in 34 minutes and attain a peak 150 kw.
Volvo actually wished journalists on the check drive to benefit from the one-pedal driving mode and agency steering setting, however I appreciated the expertise higher with each toggled off. The steering simply feels extra constant in its extra boosted type, though a center stage of regenerative braking can be a greater expertise for all.
2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge
2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge
2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge
XC40 and C40 Recharge trip and dealing with
The rear-wheel-drive structure and different updates assist these 2024 fashions carry themselves down the highway with a bit of extra sophistication. Altering up the rear motor required a brand new rear subframe, which gave engineers the chance to retune the suspension. Outgoing variations of those Recharge fashions can trip on the jittery aspect, however it’s now been turned to be a bit of extra luxurious with none lack of athleticism—and the single-motor model steers and handles with a bit extra neatness. In a route that took us by way of a collection of curvy backroads, largely at speeds of 30-55 mph, the brand new fashions had been each a bit of extra forgiving and extra pure in fast transitions and fewer vulnerable to carrying small impacts and coarse surfaces into the cabin. As earlier than, they’re remarkably tight from wind noise.
2024 Volvo C40 Recharge
2024 Volvo C40 Recharge
2024 Volvo C40 Recharge
The cabin impresses as understated at first, however it wows within the textures, particulars, and seat consolation and assist. Volvo acquired it proper from the beginning, so it’s excellent news nothing a lot modified. As in most different latest fashions from Volvo, it’s additionally straightforward to discover a comfy driving place (and rear-seat consolation) for a variety of physique heights and sizes. Though the middle console structure detracts a bit from area in comparison with rivals, at 6-foot-6 I discovered it straightforward to get out and in and be comfy in each the C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge. The coupe-like C40 doesn’t provide almost as a lot cargo flexibility, although, and its design doesn’t appeal from all angles in fairly the identical means.
Costs are but to return as these fashions’ arrive later within the 12 months. The 2023 XC40 Recharge fashions begin at $54,645 and $56,395 respectively; search for 2024 single-motor variations to land nearer to the $50,000 mark.
2024 Volvo C40 Recharge
With the pending arrival of the massive EX90 electrical SUV early subsequent 12 months, and now an EX30 small SUV on the best way too, these refreshed 40-series fashions present that Volvo has its priorities in verify—with extra vary, extra effectivity, and quicker charging. And that you just received’t miss.
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Volvo offered journey and lodging to deliver you this firsthand assessment.
