It’s official – Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) confirmed today through it’s Facebook page that the Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will be officially introduced here in Malaysia!
Unfortunately, no further information have been provided – that’ll have to wait for one more week, on the 25th of February, where the car will be launched through a virtual livestreamed event at 11am.
The Volvo XC40 plug-in hybrid was first introduced back in 2018. Don’t be confused by its name though, this isn’t the fully-electric XC40 that’s also called the “XC40 Recharge” – Volvo decided to include the ‘Recharge’ moniker in every model that features any sort of electrification, so technically all T8-badged Volvo models here in Malaysia should also include the badge.
In the Recharge T5 configuration, the PHEV XC40 features a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine with 180 hp and 265 Nm, paired to a small DCT-mounted electric motor (with a peak output of 82 hp and 160 Nm) for a total system output of 262 hp and 425 Nm of torque.
The power output translates to a 7.3 seconds century sprint time, while top speed – as with all other Volvo vehicles – is limited to 180 km/h. And here’s an additional trivia for you: the three-pot engine, alongside the seven-speed DCT gearbox, are reportedly based from the same family of those found in the Proton X50!
By way of comparison, the Volvo XC40 T5 AWD currently available in Malaysia packs a 252 hp and 350 Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo underneath its hood, and does 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds – thanks to its lower overall vehicle weight without the extra heft from the 10.7 kWh lithium-ion battery.
We’ll learn more about the XC40 Recharge T5 plug-in hybrid at the upcoming launch event for the Malaysia market, which as we’ve mentioned above, will happen at 11am on the 25th of February. If given the choice, will you be going electric? Let us know in the comments section below!
GALLERY
