Six things you need to know about the Volvo C40 Recharge

… As you’d expect from a 402bhp coupe. Although you’ll need to recalibrate your brain to understand that this is how the world does quick coupes these days – as SUVs. The 4WD, twin-motor layout means 0-62mph can be dealt with in 4.9 seconds. Crikey.

As much as we like to think they do, not quite *everyone* needs over 400bhp in their family car. For those that don’t, Volvo’s UK managing director Kristian Elvefors confirmed to TG that single motor, 2WD versions would be along soon. Have a look at the Polestar 2’s 64kWh and 78kWh single motor iterations for a likely glimpse into the future.

“We have a car in a segment that is quite unique,” Elvefors also told TG recently. Not unlike the C30 of a decade or so ago, then.

“It’s one of the first small coupe-like SUVs. Of course it has a sibling in the Polestar 2 but parked side by side they look completely different.”

Not sure it’ll be quite so niche for much longer. We’re big fans of that proper little rear wing, though. 

Yep, Volvo has made a commitment to ditch the cow hides completely by 2030 (at which point it’ll also be EV-only) and you can’t get real-life leather at all in the C40. The newly developed replacement is mightily impressive though and makes for super soft seats, or you can have the wool as pictured here. Oh, and the carpet is made from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles. 

Volvo is moving to online sales with its EVs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go to a dealership, test drive a C40 and then buy one there on the spot. Really we should be referring to it as direct sales, because if you want your C40 buying experience to be completely online it can be. 

We haven’t had a chance to drive the C40 yet, but a quick sit in the back seats at the Goodwood Festival of Speed confirmed that even six footers will just about be okay in the rear seats. Not bad considering they’ve chopped 70mm from the XC40’s roof.