We are surpassing the days when electric vehicles were only a logical cash-saving alternative to ICE cars. Keeping aside the sky-high fuel prices in India and the subsequent rise in its popularity,
EVs are now becoming a lifestyle choice. In the age of rectification, EVs are touted to be at the forefront of the gree battle. Major car manufacturers including luxury automakers saw this and have come out with their idea of premium electric vehicles. Vehicles that grab each element of luxury while keeping things clean. And after a very recent launch, the list has gotten longer so here's it.
Kia EV6
The Kia EV6 has arrived in two trim options in India. The GT Line AWD and the GT Line RWD. The essential difference is in terms of drivetrain and nothing more. Given the price tag that starts at Rs 59.95 lakh (ex-showroom) for the RWD variant, one can guess that the EV6 is Kia's flagship offering showcasing the brand's technological prowess. All of the 100 units that arrived at our shores have been sold and Kia has promised more units that will be allotted to India.
In terms of powertrain, both the variants get the same 77.4 kWh battery pack, which returns a claim of 528 km on RWD and 425 km on a single charge on the AWD. The EV6's RWD variant gets a single motor, that puts out 226 bhp and a healthy 350 NM of torque, while the AWD version gets a dual motor setup, delivering a combined output of 320 bhp and a whopping 650 Nm of instant torque.
In terms of features, the car comes with a big fat list as well. It comes with two screens which take the centre stage on the dash, ADAS features like multi-collision braking, AEB, lane-keeping assist, lane follow assist, and blind-spot collision warning with rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, and some more features like parking collision avoidance assist, a reverse surround view monitor with a 3D model and a blind-spot view monitor. There is also a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) built-in. The car comes with ABS, BAS, ESC, Hill Hold Assist, Highway Driving Assist, and Vehicle Stability Management.
Jaguar i-Pace
The i-Pace is Jaguar's first electric product in India. Prices for the car start at Rs 1.08 crore (ex-showroom). Jaguar I-Pace is powered by a 90kWh lithium-Ion battery with a motor on each axle that produces a combined output of 389bhp and 696Nm of torque. The model can attain speeds of 100kmph from a standstill in 4.8 seconds.
The I-Pace can be charged with a 100kW rapid charger that replenishes the battery from zero to 80 per cent in 40 minutes, while the 7.4 kW AC wall charger will take 10 hours to charge up to 80 per cent. A full charge is claimed to return a range of 470 kilometres (WLTP rated).
Feature highlights of the new Jaguar I-Pace include matrix LED headlamps, 19-inch alloy wheels, LED tail lights, adaptive cruise control, powered tailgate, Meridian music system, 3D surround camera, and leather sports seats, and a touchscreen system for the AC controls.
Audi e-Tron
Audi raised the curtains on its EV act in Indi with the e-tron. In terms of design, the car gets the signature single-frame grille, matrix LED headlamps, orange brake callipers, 20-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels, LED tail lights with an LED strip running the length of the boot lid, and soft-close doors.
On the inside, the car comes equipped with a panoramic sunroof, virtual cockpit, four-spoke steering wheel, four-zone climate control, 360-degree camera, heads-up display, wireless charging, and ambient lighting.
The Audi e-Tron 50 and e-Tron 55 come with a 71kWh battery pack and a 95kWh battery pack respectively. The former produces 308bhp and 540Nm of torque, while the latter produces 402bhp and 664Nm of torque. The model is claimed to have a range of 359-484km in the WLTP cycle.
Mini Cooper SE
The Mini Cooper SE is probably the cutest EV on this list. On the outside the car comes with a pair of circular LED headlamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED tail lights, a new grille, revised front and rear bumpers, a contrast black roof, as well as yellow accents on the ORVMs and alloy wheels.
On the inside, it gets a 5.5-inch coloured MID, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, sports seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a Nappa leather steering wheel.
The car comes with a 32.6kWh battery pack that produces 181bhp and 270Nm of torque. This motor helps it breach a ton in 7.3 seconds, all the way up to a top speed of 150kmph. The battery is claimed to return a range (WLTP certified) of 270km on a full charge. It gets an 11kW AC wall-box charger, which charges the car from 0-80 per cent in 2.5 hours. Customers can also use a 50kW DC fast charger that can charge the battery from 0-80 per cent in just 36 minutes.
Mercedes-Benz EQC
The list is incomplete without a Merc. The car gets an 80kWh battery pack that powers two electric motors, one on each axle. The total output of these motors is 408PS and 760Nm. As per NEDC (New European Driving Cycle), the EQC can be driven more than 450km with the battery pack fully charged.
The car comes with a 7.4kWh home charger that can charge the electric SUV from 10 to 100 per cent in 10 hours. It works on a regular 15amp socket, delivering a maximum of 3.4kWh of electricity, and can complete the 10 to 100 per cent charge in 21 hours. A 50kW DC fast charger takes just 1.5 hours to charge the EQC from 10 to 100 per cent.
Mercedes is offering a head-up display, two 12.3-inch screens with the latest MBUX infotainment system, touchpads on the steering wheel, smartphone-based connected car tech, and a 13-speaker Burmester sound system, three-zone climate control, and 64 levels of ambient lighting.
Write your Comment