Volvo Cars will produce a rear-wheel drive car for the first time in a quarter of a century.
The move puts an end to the self-imposed boycott of safety-related configurations, which also apply to the updated and more expensive XC40 and C40 all-electric compact SUVs. Volvo said in a release:
Similar upgrades have been made to the SUV’s sibling, the Polestar 2. Volvo is a major shareholder of Polestar.
Starting prices for the updated XC40 and C40 EV in Germany rise from around €44,800 to €47,500. A Volvo spokesman said his 6% rise was primarily due to higher material and logistics costs.
Despite market shifts triggered by Tesla’s decision to lower the starting prices of models such as the XC40 and C40 rival Model 3, the automaker said it had no immediate plans to lower its prices. .
According to the automaker’s website, the starting price for the RWD Model 3 in Germany is €43,990. Its price is €3,510 below the Volvo model. Meanwhile Volvo Polestar 2
Volvo is also updating twin-motor, all-wheel-drive versions of the XC40 and C40. The new variants start at €57,950 and €61,400 respectively. These cost around €2,680 (about 5%), which is higher than the model they replace.
Power up, range up
The latest RWD Volvo variant with single motor and standard range is powered by a 175 kW (235 hp) permanent magnet electric motor, which is 3% more power than the single motor’s 170 kW (228 hp). increase. The front-wheel drive variant they replace.
Single-motor standard range The XC40 retains a 69kWh battery, but improved cooling efficiency boosts its range from 425km in WLTP tests to an estimated 460km.
The single-motor C40’s range increases from an estimated 438 km to 476 km. Both range estimates are based on Volvo tests. The final his WLTP range figures will be determined by independent testing, the spokesperson said.
With a 130 kW fast charger, the single motor variant takes about 34 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent.
extended range
The second rwd version has a larger battery and a more powerful 185 kW (248 hp) permanent magnet electric motor on the rear axle.
According to Volvo’s results, the 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack powers an extended-range variant that boosts the XC40 Recharge’s range to 515 km and the C40 Recharge’s maximum range to 533 km.
With a 200 kW fast charger, it takes about 28 minutes to charge the large battery from 10% to 80%.
The permanent magnet electric motors that drive all rear axles in the updated model were developed by Volvo’s research and development team in Gothenburg, the company said.
rwd reboot
On February 5, 1998, Volvo’s last rear-wheel drive car (940 sedan) left the carmaker’s assembly line in Torslanda, Sweden.
Volvo is giving RWD another chance as its traction control system has improved significantly over the past 25 years, with the move to full-electric powertrains giving it more control over how and when torque is distributed. said the spokesperson. car news europee.
Even if that means Volvo forgoing some of the handling and maneuverability benefits that front-wheel-drive models offer, front-wheel-drive models typically perform better on snow and ice, making them easier to handle. We stopped making rear-wheel drive cars because we believed they were safer.
Volvo believes returning to RWD will result in better drivability, less understeer and more agility without compromising safety.
Contributed by Urvakhsh Kalkaria
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