Wicked viking
CAR South Africa|CAR August 2023
With 300 kW on tap and a trendy sloped-roof design, the Volvo C40 takes the fight to its German EV rivals - and then some
Wicked viking

Following the addition of the all-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge to the South African market, the Swedish brand has now expanded its EV offering with the swanky C40 Recharge. It's a niche crossover with swooping four-door coupé styling that maintains all the familiar character one would expect from a Volvo product.

This P8 Ultimate variant (the only iteration available in SA) is powered by a twin-motor, all wheel-drive set-up, and it's one of the fastest-accelerating Volvo products ever built.


Price: R1 285 000
Electric motor type: permanent magnet synchronous, front & rear
Transmission: single-speed auto
Power: 300 kW
Torque: 660 N.m
0–100 km/h: 4,7 seconds*
Top speed: 180 km/h*
Energy consumption: 21,1 kWh/100 km (combined WLTP)*
Rivals: BMW iX1, Mercedes-Benz EQA

Powered by a claimed 78 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the C40 produces a combined 300 kW and 660 N.m. With such stupendous performance figures, the sprint to 100 km/h is completed in 4,7 seconds. This makes it effectively as fast as an Audi RS Q3 Sportback. At the Volvo's rain-soaked launch event in Franschhoek, the C40 performed effortlessly, offering heaps of traction and confidence in the wet, as well as more than enough grunt for overtaking lumbering trucks.

Denne historien er fra CAR August 2023 -utgaven av CAR South Africa.

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Denne historien er fra CAR August 2023 -utgaven av CAR South Africa.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

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