Maruti Suzuki eVX design out! Unveiled as e-Vitara: India launch, battery, range – Times of India
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Suzuki has finally taken the wraps off the Suzuki e-Vitara. The e-Vitara is essentially the production version of the eVX concept which was showcased at the Delhi Auto Expo last year and the production version has been revealed in Milan today. The e-Vitara will be the first electric vehicle from Maruti Suzuki in India and will compete with the Tata Curvv EV, MG ZS EV and the upcoming Hyundai Creta EV and Mahindra BE 05 when launched in the Indian market. The e-Vitara will make its India debut at the upcoming 2025 Bharat Mobility expo and will be launched in India in March 2025. It will be produced at the Maruti’s Gujarat plant and will also be sold under the Toyota brand.
First, let’s talk about the battery and e-motor. The Suzuki e-Vitara is built on the Heartect-e skateboard platform and is jointly developed by Suzuki and Toyota. The company claims that it merges the characteristics of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) with the durability of an SUV. The EV features eAxles, which integrate the motor and inverter into a single unit. The e Vitara will be offered with two battery options – 49kWh and 61kWh. The batteries use LFP (Lithium Iron-phosphate) ‘blade’ cells sourced by BYD and the larger 61kWh is expected to have a range of up to 550 km in one full charge.
The 49kWh battery will come paired with a single motor placed on the front axle which puts out 144hp. The bigger 61kWh battery also gets single-motor but here it puts out 174hp. Both motors produce identical 189Nm of torque which is surprisingly low compared to other electric SUVs in the market. There’s also an AWD version offered with a dual motor setup, placed one on each axle and this puts out 184hp and 300Nm torque. Suzuki calls the AWD tech in e-Vitara as e-AllGrip, it features a Trail mode that engages the brakes on wheels lacking traction while directing torque to the wheels with grip. This system effectively simulates a limited-slip differential.
Now let’s talk about design, the e-Vitara looks very similar to the eVX concept and packs in muscular design. At the front, it features tri-LED daytime running lights with a closed-off grille. The lower bumper looks similar to the Brezza and houses a small fog lamp with skid plates. The charging port is placed on the front flanks, and it has a prominent bulge over the rear wheel arch. At the sides, it gets aerodynamically designed alloy wheels which likely measure 18-inches and the rear door handle is placed on the C-pillar.
At the rear, it features connecting taillights with an integrated spoiler. Other highlights include e-Vitara lettering on the centre, a high mounted stop lamp, a skid plate and there’s also a small squarish fog lamp at the lower part of the bumper. In terms of dimensions, the e-Vitara measures 4,275mm in length, 1,800mm in width, 1,635mm in height and has a generous 2,700mm wheelbase. It has 180mm ground clearance and has a kerb weight of up to 1,900 kgs.
Moving inside, the interior of the e-Vitara looks completely fresh and doesn’t look similar to any other Suzuki products globally. It features floating dual screens for the instrument cluster and the infotainment screen, it also gets a floating centre console finished in gloss black which packs in controls for gear selection, e-brake, drive mode selection and also has a wireless charging pad. Other highlights include a two-spoke steering wheel, rectangular AC vents with their brushed silver surrounds, rotary drive state selector and leatherette upholstery.
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