After being crowned “European Car of the Year” at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the Volvo XC40 has come a long way in merely three years. This year, the Swedish marque launches the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric, officially stepping into a future of greener world as part of Volvo’s pledge to become a fully electric company by 2030.
The debut of the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric has stolen the thunder of major carmakers in the country with the honour of being the first marque to release an electric vehicle that is locally assembled. A mighty mite, the first CKD electric vehicle in Malaysia packs a punch in the smallest SUV in the history of Volvo. In a short span of 33 minutes, the battery charges from 0% to 80%. with the availability of DC fast charging. Once fully charged, the little beast can take on journeys as far as over 400km.
Exuding the minimal aesthetics of Scandinavia, the body of the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is decorated with an enclosed grille stamped with a Volvo logo, full LED headlights and 19” 5-Spoke Black Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels – it also features a staggered wheel setup, a first for Volvo, where the rear tyres are 20mm wider to work in harmony with the dominant rear motor.
Upon keyless entry, the modern-looking dashboard in dashed line design and seating in a mix of suede and leather heave into sight. When it comes to Volvo, expect only state-of-the-art technology and no-nonsense features. Equipped with voice commands, let Google Maps be your road ranger and deliver the latest road conditions to you. Ensnare in a traffic jam? Fret not, just switch on the 13-speaker sound system built by Harmon Kardon and groove to chart-topping beats. Finish going grocery shopping? Simply fold the 60/40-split rear seats to your liking to stow your daily supplies in order.
Powered by 78 kWh Lithium-Ion Battery Capacity, with an output of 300kW or 408 PS, the mighty mite can easily achieve a century sprint in 4.9 seconds. Unlike the conventional vehicle, the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric boasts one-pedal driving mode that activates the motor’s regenerative braking effect. In other words, it allows slowdown of the car without having rely on the brake pedal. Apart from that, there is also an off-road mode that tackles steeper hill descents. Safety feature wise, it comes with 360° parking view for easy manoeuvre; City Safety for collision avoidance; Run-Off Road Mitigation with Road Edge Detection for worry-free drive; and other perks that bring fun to every journey.
This story first appeared in the May 2022 issue of Men’s Folio Malaysia.