Maruti Suzuki e Vitara : The electric car market in India is growing rapidly and in the meantime Maruti Suzuki is preparing to launch its first electric SUV e Vitara. This car is considered a big step for the company because till now Maruti Suzuki was known only for petrol and diesel vehicles. With the launch of e Vitara, the company will directly enter the segment where brands like Tata, Mahindra and Hyundai are already present.
Launch and price
The production of e Vitara has started at Hansalpur plant in Gujarat and its first consignment is being sent to foreign countries like UK, Germany, France and Norway. Its launch in India will be a little later than the earlier scheduled time, but it is expected that the price will be announced before the end of this calendar year. The starting price can start from around Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom), which will make it a strong option in the mid-size electric SUV segment.
Battery and range
e Vitara will be offered with two battery pack options. The first one is of 48.8 kWh, while the second one is a larger 61.1 kWh pack. With the larger battery, this car will give a driving range of more than 500 km. The motor in both versions comes with different power, where the smaller pack gives 144 PS of power and 192.5 Nm of torque, while the larger pack gives up to 174 PS of power. Regarding charging, it will also have the facility of fast charging and the battery can be charged from 0 to 80 percent in just 50 minutes.
Design and platform
This SUV is built on the Heartect-e platform which has been jointly developed by Maruti and Toyota. Its design has a modern touch and it will have the option of ten different paint shades. All-wheel-drive is available in the international version, but only the front-wheel-drive version will be offered for the Indian market.
Features
The e Vitara has a full pack of features. It includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.1-inch digital driver display, wireless phone charging, ventilated seats and electric adjustable driver seat. Keeping safety in mind, it also has seven airbags, 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, electronic stability program and level-2 ADAS technology.