ELECTRIC Volvo XC40 will arrive THIS year

Volvo has confirmed that a fully electric version of the XC40 will arrive in 2019, joining the two plug-in hybrid XC40 versions also due.

Volvo, just like almost every other car maker, is on a mission to electrify their cars to cut average emissions, and that means stuff like KERS-style B-badged hybrids for the XC90, more plug-in Twin-Engine offerings and fully electric BEVs.

The only BEV we’ve seen so far from Volvo is the new Polestar 2, but now Volvo has revealed to Automotive News that a fully electric version of the XC40 will arrive before the end of 2019.

The new electric Volvo XC40 will join the XC40 T5 Twin Engine and XC40 T4 Twin-Engine plug-in hybrids as the electrified takes on the XC40, and although Volvo hasn’t revealed any details of what an electric XC40 will offer yet, we should probably look at the Polestar 2 for a bit of a clue.

The Polestar 2 is built on the same platform as the XC40 and comes with a 78kWh battery which is good for over 300 miles range, four-wheel drive, 402bhp, 487lb/ft of torque and 0-62mph in under 5.0 seconds.

The XC40 will be offered with lower-powered versions of the same set-up to offer a range of options to buyers, but we see no reason what a range-topping electric XC40 shouldn’t come with the same range and power as the new Polestar 2.

The Volvo XC40 is already the pick in its sector; adding the electric XC40 – especially with the sort of performance promises for the Polestar 2 – will make it even more appealing.