Getting rid of leather is easier said than done as the Geely-owned brand must remain a luxury car manufacturer at its core. Some would argue a leather-free interior is not worthy of premium car status, but we’d beg to differ and so would Volvo. What are the substitutes? Sustainable materials created using bio-based and recycled sources while making sure they’re high-quality enough to meet the firm’s standards as well as the expectations of a luxury car buyer.

A relevant example of an eco-friendly material used by Volvo is its new Nordico, consisting of textiles originating from recycled materials like PET bottles. It also uses bio-attributed material from sustainable forests in Finland and Sweden, and even corks recycled from wine bottles. We will be seeing this interior material in next-generation models, likely the new XC90 debuting in 2022.

At the same time, Volvo says it will continue to offer wool blend options, but only if it’s provided by suppliers who source the goods in a sustainable manner, without negatively impacting our already fragile environment. Another way to protect Mother Earth is by diminishing the use of residual products from livestock production for making rubber, plastics, adhesives, and lubricants.

Other methods to become greener announced by Volvo include targeting 25% of all interior materials to consist of recycled and bio-based content by 2025 when it wants all of its immediate suppliers to exclusively use renewable energy.

Source: Volvo

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Sold exclusively online as all electric Volvos from now on, the new C40 carries over the hardware arrangement from the conventionally styled XC40 Recharge. It will have the same all-wheel-drive layout provided by one electric motor mounted at the front and another at the rear, good for 402 horsepower and a near-instant torque of 660 Nm (487 lb-ft).

Having largely the same weight, size, and an identical powertrain, the C40’s performance chops perfectly match those of the XC40 Recharge. In other words, the 0 to 60 mph run is completed in 4.7 seconds and the electric crossover-coupe will reach an electronically governed 112 mph (180 km/h). As a refresher, all new Volvos have a top speed limiter programmed to kick in at that velocity.

Volvo cites an estimated WLTP range of 420 kilometers for the European model and an EPA-rated 210 miles for the North America version. After the battery is depleted, it takes 40 minutes to fast-charge at 150 kW from zero to 80% through a DC connection.

You’ll be happy to hear the cargo capacity hasn’t suffered following the repositioned roofline as the C40 Recharge has virtually the same storage volume as the XC40 Recharge, at 413 liters or just one liter less than the vehicle it’s based on. Needless to say, the frunk’s capacity hasn’t changed, at 31 liters.

Volvo points out that while the XC40 Recharge is sold alongside conventionally powered versions of the crossover, the new C40 Recharge won’t be available with combustion engines. In addition, it’s the first model from the brand in the modern era that doesn’t come with leather whatsoever.

The Geely-owned brand will roll out over-the-air updates following the vehicle’s launch, bringing improved range as was the case with the XC40 Recharge’s OTA earlier this week. Meanwhile, the C40 Recharge will go on sale later in 2021, with production starting this fall.

Five additional EVs will be launched by Volvo between now and 2025, with the ultimate goal being to offer a purely electric lineup by 2030.

Source: Volvo

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Ok, but what exactly is the C40? Some would be tempted to say it’s going to take the shape of a proper two-door coupe based on one of the firm’s 40 Series cars. However, we’re tempted to believe it will be an XC40 derivative with a coupe-like roofline while retaining the rear doors. We have seen this formula plenty of times on crossovers and SUVs fitted with combustion engines, including the Mercedes GLC / GLC Coupe and BMW X3 / X4, just to name a few.

Already confirmed for the US market, the Volvo C40 is likely going to carry a premium over the conventionally styled XC40 Recharge. Another downsize could be represented by a decrease in practicality as the coupe-ish roof will likely have a negative impact on the rear headroom and the available cargo volume behind the rear seats.

Technical specifications are not known at this point, although we’re tempted to believe these won’t stray away too far from the regular XC40 Recharge. Speaking of which, the normal model recently received an over-the-air update, bringing faster charging and a slight bump in range. The C40 should benefit from these improvements from day one. In some rare cases, a coupe-crossover has slightly more range than the model it’s based on due to a more aerodynamic body. One relevant example is the Audi E-Tron Sportback as it has a slightly longer range than the standard E-Tron due to its more streamlined body. It remains to be seen whether that’s going to be the case with the C40.

Following its world premiere on March 2, the Volvo C40 will go on sale for the 2022 model year, meaning it should reach dealers across the world later this year. For 2021, the company wants a quarter of its sales to be represented by EVs and PHEVs, with the ultimate goal being to retire the combustion engine by 2030 when Volvo aims to have a purely electric portfolio.

Source: Volvo

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In an interview with AN, Volvo Retail Advisory Board Chairman Ernie Norcross described the upcoming zero-emissions model as being “a great-looking vehicle.” He went on to say the EV’s arrival in North America is “going to hit right where we need it to. We haven’t had a small crossover and consumers have asked for that.”

It’s seen by the dealers as an entry-level model, so it will be presumably smaller and more affordable than the XC40 Recharge P8 pictured here. It is unclear at this point whether the crossover-coupe will be sold purely as an EV or Volvo also has plans to offer the new upcoming vehicle with combustion engines as well to broaden its customer base.

Getting the 281-dealer network ready for EVs is going to take a lot of work and investments estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars to retool dealerships to sell and service cars that don’t have a traditional powertrain. Ernie Norcross told Automotive News that each and every dealership will have to spend anywhere between $50,000 to as much as $300,000, but these numbers are not final yet. Volvo’s dealer network is still crunching the numbers, but it’s a known fact the automaker is not looking to subsidize the investments made by dealers.

For 2021, Volvo wants a quarter of its global sales to be represented by plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles. The Swedish automaker owned by Geely is looking to become a purely electric brand by the end of the decade and to get there, it will launch a new EV every year. The upcoming C40 is expected to be followed in 2022 by the next-generation XC90 large SUV offered with both traditional and electric powertrains.

Source: Automotive News

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