By Otsile Kadiege

Hot on the heels of the recently launched and purely electric XC40 P8 Recharge, which sold over 30 units initially, Volvo South Africa is expanding the range of their all-electric compact SUV with the less powerful and more attainable XC40 P6 Recharge.

Unlike its powerful XC40 P8 Recharge sibling, the P6 employs a single-electric motor mounted to the front axle. Maximum power and torque outputs are 170 kW and 330 Nm. Volvo claims it sprints from 0-100 km/h sprint in just 7.4 seconds. Its a low-mounted, high-voltage 69 kWh lithium-ion battery enables the P6 Recharge to travel up to 423 km (WLTP) on a single charge. As standard, it’s also fitted with a powerful 11 kW onboard charger.

The XC40 P6 Recharge utilises a shift-by-wire, single-speed transmission featuring a short gear ratio. According to Volvo SA this results in a sprightly off-the-line acceleration, improved hill-climbing ability and increased towing capacity (which matches that of the twin-motor model at 1 500 kg braked).

Volvo South Africa will reveal local pricing and specification details for the new XC40 P6 Recharge in due course.