The 2024 model year will switch to a RWD setup.
Expect more power and more range.
Will Polestar follow Volvo with the 2?
It seems like the Volvo XC40 Recharge/C40 Recharge tandem will get an update for 2024. At least that’s what we learned from an official document discovered on a Belgian consumer website of the Swedish brand.
The Swedish automaker is already preparing for the second phase of its electrification with the EX90, the XC90’s replacement that will only make its debut in early 2024, but while we wait for this revised 3-row crossover, Volvo must also keep an eye on its more affordable vehicles like the XC40 Recharge and its fastback cousin, the C40 Recharge.
At this time, the information had not been confirmed by the automaker, but this document discovered on a Belgian website points directly to significant improvements for the 2024 model year. Indeed, the brand’s small electric crossovers will gain power, range and even be entitled to a little sportier behavior.
Volvo C40 Recharge Photo: Volvo
In Canada, the two SUVs are only offered in four-wheel drive configuration, unlike the cousin Polestar 2, which has been available with a front-wheel drive layout for a few months now. In Europe, both compact crossovers are also available with two-wheel drive (front). However, 2024 will be the year when both vehicles switch to rear-wheel drive.
Indeed, the document confirms this new setup with the “RWD” designation for the two-wheel-drive versions, an arrangement that aligns directly with other “affordable” electric crossovers on the market. The Hyundai IONIQ 5, Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model 3 are just a few examples of EVs that use this kind of “slightly sportier” architecture.
The 16 pages document also show that the battery capacity for the two-motor version increases from 78 kWh to 82 kWh, which also affects the vehicle’s range, increased to 509 km (316 miles) for the C40 Recharge and 502 km (312 miles) for the XC40 Recharge.
Volvo C40 Recharge
The same applies to the two-wheel drive version, which increases to 459 km (285 miles) for the XC40 and 47 km (296 miles) for the C40. It should be noted, however, that this single-motor version retains the current 78 kWh battery pack. On the other hand, the engine’s output increases from 228 to 238 horsepower.
There’s no gain for the two-motor model, but either way, with 408 horsepower on tap, both SUVs are well endowed in that regard. It’s in the power distribution that the two vehicles change quite drastically. Instead of the two engines rated at 204 horsepower each, engineers have instead decreased the power of the engine mounted on the front axle – to 163 horsepower in this case – and increased the power of the engine bolted behind it, to 245 horsepower. The driving experience should be a little sportier with the emphasis on the rear wheels.
Volvo XC40 Recharge Photo: Volvo
It’s also worth mentioning that the vehicles will receive a more efficient charging speed, increasing from 135 kW to 200 kW.
It will be interesting to see if all these changes apply to the 2024 XC40/C40 in North America, but it would be surprising if Volvo were to market two very different models around the world. We’ll know the answer soon enough.
Volvo XC40 Recharge Photo: Volvo
