The Electric Mr. Ripley: Volvo XC40 Recharge

Volvo's first fully electric vehicle, the XC40 Recharge P8 with 408 horsepower, has arrived for testing.

By Alanis Beril Altınbaş

The Talented Mr. Ripley is at the top of my favorite films. It is a visual—and especially cognitive—feast from start to finish. If you haven't seen it, you definitely should. The new Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 I took for testing is as talented as he is, and electric to its very core...

Its mission is crystal clear: Specifically to convince female drivers like myself—who might be considering the BMW iX3, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Jaguar I-Pace, Tesla Model Y, or VW ID.4—to go Nordic. Volvo Recharge is the sub-brand that encompasses the company's entire hybrid and fully electric lineup.

Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson believes that electric vehicles will account for 50% of Volvo's sales volume by 2025, and the company aims to reduce the life-cycle carbon footprint per vehicle by 40% in the same year. Their ultimate goal is to become carbon neutral by 2040.

The XC40 P8 looks identical to its siblings, with the exception of the body-colored "Sage Green" grille and the "Recharge" logo on the C-pillar. It captivates us completely with its massive alloy wheel design and light pistachio (sage) green color.

The exterior designer of the new Volvo XC40 is Ian Kettle. He was so successful at Volvo that Tesla recruited him immediately; he is currently designing Tesla's vehicles.

What is P8? 408 HP Power, 660 Nm Torque! The P8 is powered by a 78kWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted under the floor, feeding two electric motors—one on each axle—to provide all-wheel drive.

The power output is an incredible 408 HP, with a staggering 660 Nm of torque available instantly. This definitely doesn't feel like a typical Volvo; it's a speed machine! 0-100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. While Volvo officially says "we don't produce performance cars," I think they are being too humble.

Volvo offers a range of 400-450 km on a single charge. When connected to a 150 kW fast charger, you can reach 80% capacity in approximately 40 minutes. In the competition between electric cars, design, connectivity, ease of use, and quality have become more important than ever. Volvo has made an advantageous start in all four categories with the XC40. A fully electric Volvo could only be this good.