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      Kia Plans Small Electric SUV For India – Sonet EV To Rival Nexon EV?

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      Kia is expected to launch its premium electric crossover- EV6 in India later this year, it has already been spotted testing on Indian roadsKia Sonet Modified By Bozz Concepts – Render for referenceKia has seen tremendous success within a limited span in this country. Within three years, it has broken into top five carmakers in India. While the South Korean brand has already laid out groundwork for its first pure electric offering in the country, it also wants to enter the entry-level EV space in future with a small electric SUV.As per latest reports, development work for a small electric SUV codenamed AY has been started by Kia. This SUV is likely to be built exclusively in India for the company’s international markets and could hit roads by 2025. The report further mentions that this model will not be based on a pure EV platform.Kia Entry-Level Electric SUV – Sonet EV?Instead, it will be underpinned by a flexible platform that will also offer Kia a space in the mass market entry-level petrol SUV segment. Kia already retails an entry-level SUV in the form of Sonet but the brand wants to solidify its position in this space with multiple new products.The Korean car major will enter the EV space in India with EV6 later this year. The fully electric crossover made its global debut in March last year and has already been spotted testing on Indian roads on a couple of occasions. It is based on the new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) that also underpins the new Hyundai Ioniq 5. The latter is also slated for a launch in India later this year.Kia EV6 GT Electric Car in India. Image – Automobili ArdentWith two new EVs offered at both ends of the spectrum, Kia will be able to cater to a wider segment of buyers looking for a battery-powered SUV. However, there are no specific details regarding the entry-level SUV yet and it will take some time before any notable development is made in this regard.Late last year, Kia’s cousin Hyundai India had also announced to launch an entry level SUV. Just like Kia, Hyundai too had not revealed details, but they did say that it will be a small electric SUV. Considering the huge demand for Nexon EV, it is possible that Hyundai and Kia could be working on electrifying Venue and Sonet for India.Kia EV6- Powertrain SpecsComing back to EV6, internationally it is offered in two variants- GT Line and GT, available in 2WD as well as all-wheel-drive configurations. Further, Kia will be offering two battery pack options in both variants of the upcoming electric crossover– 58 kWh for standard range and 77.4 kWh for long range. The base GT Line trim with the smaller battery pack offers 170 bhp in RWD format and 235 bhp in AWD layout.When paired with the larger battery pack, GT Line trim produces 229 bhp in a single-motor (RWD) setup and 325 bhp in a dual-motor (AWD) setup. While the rear-wheel-drive variant has a 0-100kmph acceleration time of 6.2 seconds, AWD variant of EV6 GT Line can attain this in 5.2 seconds. On the other hand, the top-spec GT trim is only offered with a dual-motor setup paired exclusively with a 77.4 kWh battery.Powertrain in EV6 GT returns a peak output of 576 bhp and 740 Nm of torque. This enables a 0-100kmph sprint in just 3.5 seconds with a top speed capped at 260 kmph. Kia will be offering EV6 as a fully imported CBU model in India which is expected to be available in its fully loaded GT trim.Source More

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      Tata Motors To Manufacture 2 L Electric Cars, EVs At Ford India Plant

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      Tata Motors will be investing Rs 2,000 crore in the Sanand-based manufacturing facility in Gujarat previously owned by Ford IndiaImage – National GeographicTimes of India claims that Tata Motors has taken over the Ford India plant in Sanand. Tata Motors has not yet officially announced the take over. As per the report, Tata Motors has acquired Ford India’s manufacturing facility based out of Sanand in Gujarat for an undisclosed amount.There have been talks of the Indian automaker taking over the American auto giant’s plants in India. The latter quit retail and manufacturing operations in the country in September last year. Tata Motors is planning to invest an additional Rs 2,000 crore in the newly acquired facility. The homegrown carmaker intends to manufacture two lakh electric vehicles (EVs) by 2026 at the Sanand factory. Ford also owns a vehicle and engine manufacturing plant in Maraimalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu.Tata Motors Acquiring Ford India’s plantAs a part of this takeover, Tata Motors will not be laying off any of the existing employees of Ford in this facility. The facility has given employment to as many as 23,000 personnel either directly or indirectly. The company already owns a manufacturing facility in Sanand, built to manufacture Tata Nano. Ford India plant is just opposite the Tata Motors plant in Sanand.This plant currently serves as a manufacturing hub for the brand’s EVs and other models like Tiago and Tigor. As of now, Tata Motors produces 10,000 EVs per year, at its existing Sanand-based factory. This facility has an overall production capacity of 1.5 lakh units per annum. Tata Motors was one of the first major automakers to enter Sanand with an investment of Rs 4,500 crore to build India’s most affordable car in the form of Nano.Tata CURVV Electric SUV Coupe ConceptConcessions sought by Tata MotorsTata Motors has also sought concessions in land transfer rate where it has proposed to pay 20% of jantri rate of the land which translates to Rs 66 crores. It has also asked for balance eligible incentives which were promised to Ford till 2030. Report further reveals that the state government has given its nod to these concessions sought by Tata Motors.Earlier this year, both Tata Motors and Ford India submitted a consent proposal for transfer of ownership of the latter’s manufacturing plant to the former. The high-powered committee met recently and gave a nod to this proposal including concessions sought by Tata Motors as part of this deal. The proposed takeover is expected to become a major landmark in EV production in the country.Tata Motors as an EV manufacturerTata Motors is currently the largest EV manufacturer in the country with two mass-market products in the form of Tigor EV and Nexon. In February this year, the brand sold a total of 2,264 units of battery-powered vehicles. The company recently previewed an upcoming Coupe Electric SUV in the form of Curvv Concept which is expected to go on sale by 2024.Source More

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      Toyota Innova Electric 7 Seater MPV Will Not Enter Production

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      While Toyota Innova Electric Concept has passed the stage of quality and safety assurance internal checks, it won’t go into series productionToyota Innova Electric ConceptA few days ago Toyota showcased a concept prototype of an all-electric Innova at the recently concluded Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) in Jakarta. It managed to grab a lot of eyeballs across the world, especially in South Asian markets where Innova is a very well-known brand.While the Japanese carmaker is investing heavily in future electrified powertrains, a fully electric Innova isn’t part of the plan. This has been confirmed by the Indonesian arm of Toyota despite showcasing a full-fledged battery-powered prototype of the MPV which looked so close to being production-ready.Toyota Innova ElectricSpeaking to a local automotive publication, Anton Jimmi Suwandy, marketing director, Toyota Astra Motor, Indonesia, revealed that Kijang Innova Electric will not go on sale and has been built as a concept for the purpose of engineering development only. Suwandy further added that the Innova EV concept is being used for research and development of future EVs that are being readied for the region.It should be noted that Toyota has established a new engineering and development department for Asia-Pacific markets which will work for both Toyota and its subsidiary brand Daihatsu. Henry Tanoto, Vice President Director at Toyota Astra Motor Indonesia, also confirmed that the Innova EV concept is merely a study. The concept is said to have raised the popularity of EVs in the community.[embedded content][embedded content]EV Platform ChallengesThe IC engine-powered Innova Crysta is underpinned by the IMV2 ladder-on-frame architecture which is designed to accommodate petrol and diesel powertrains. Incorporating battery packs and an electric motor in this platform is a major packaging challenge thanks to the long members and horizontal arms of the chassis that restrict space for battery.Further, additional weight of frame will increase the vehicle’s overall weight by a huge margin which will not be feasible for performance as well as range. Although it has not been built for mass production, the Toyota Innova EV Concept has passed the stage of quality and safety assurance internal checks.Toyota Innova Electric 7 Seater MPV previewed a few days earlier was almost identical to its IC engine sibling barring a sealed-off front nose which is typical of all EVs. To further highlight its EV nature, Innova Electric featured blue highlights all over its exterior body. The fuel-filler lid now serves as the EV charging bay.New-Gen Innova CrystaWhile the current Innova Crysta is still a strong seller in India, the company has already started developing a new-generation model of the MPV. Camouflaged test units of the upcoming Innova have been spotted on Indian roads on a couple of occasions. The new-gen Innova is expected to come with a wide range of updates including a new platform which is expected to be a monocoque chassis underpinning Toyota Avanza.Source More

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      Kia EV6 GT Electric Car Spied Testing In India – Launch Soon

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      This flagship GT version of the Kia EV6 crossover commands a range of 510km and top speed of 260 km/hKia EV6 GT Electric Car. Image – Automobili Ardent IndiaKia EV6, the most powerful and quickest vehicle in the company lineup, is getting ready for India launch. Making its global debut last year, this electric crossover is the company’s first all-electric vehicle.Kia EV6 shares its E-GMP platform (Electric-Global Modular Platform) with the Hyundai Ioniq, which is also planned for India launch. EV6 is built on the company’s new Opposites United design philosophy which is based on the 5 pillars of Bold for Nature, Joy for Reason, Power to Progress, Technology for Life and Tension for Serenity.Kia EV6 GT Electric Spied In IndiaKia’s EV6 is offered with 2 powertrain configurations – 77.4 kWh for long range and 58 kWh for standard range. It will be offered in two variants of GT Line and GT and will be available in both 2WD and AWD options.The new Kia EV6 GT comes in with a dual motor set up along with a 77.4 kWh battery pack which together offer 576 hp power and 740 Nm torque. This allows the EV6 GT to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and to hit a top speed of 260 km/h. This speed and power puts it in a higher category as compared to the Porsche Taycan 4S.Kia EV6 GT Electric CarUpcoming Kia EV6 is offered in a choice of two battery sizes of 77.4 kWh and 58 kWh. In its non GT stance the larger battery offers 229 hp power in a rear wheel drive format and a combined 325 hp with AWD. The rear wheel drive variant gets a range of 510 kms on the WLTP cycle while acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is achieved in 5.2 seconds.The 58 kWh battery pack is also presented in two configurations of 170hp RWD and 235hp AWD with acceleration of 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds. It is not clear as to which battery variant will be launched in India. Kia EV6 will come in as a CBU.Where features are concerned, the upcoming EV6 will get a new Kia logo, large headlamps and a Tiger Nose front grille. It features an aerodynamic design with swept back windshield, angular DRLs, sloping C pillars and a roof spoiler. Interiors will see the latest in technology with an HD screen, slim dashboard and instrument cluster, and the latest in technologies and car connectivity.Battery Charging TimeKia EV6, positioned on the EGMP platform, gets an 800V charging architecture allowing charging from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes. In just 4.5 minutes of charging, the Kia EV6 can deliver up to 100 kms range. The EV6 also comes in with a ‘vehicle-to-load’ function to offer up to 3.6kW of power to external devices including other EVs. India launch is likely to take place in June 2022.Source More

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      Tata CURVV Electric SUV Concept Debuts – Bigger Than Nexon

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      When launched, Tata CURVV Coupe EV could lock horns against MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona ElectricTata CURVV Electric SUV Coupe ConceptA few days back Tata Motors teased an upcoming electric SUV on its social media handles. At first, it was believed that the company could be launching the upcoming updated Nexon EV with a larger battery pack.However, when Tata released another teaser, it was revealed that it will be an all new Electric SUV concept. Today, Tata Motors has taken wraps off their all new electric SUV Coupe – CURVV.Tata CURVV Electric SUV ConceptRumours about Tata Motors working on a stretched version of the Nexon with a Coupe body style – have been doing rounds for quite some time now. With the debut of CURVV concept today, the rumours have finally been laid to rest. It is planned for launch within the next two years. Range is to be about 500 kms.The company’s original plan was to unveil this concept at the 2022 Auto Expo in February. However, with the biennial auto event being postponed due to obvious reasons to January 2023, Tata Motors decided to present the Concept vehicle in April 2022. That said, market launch of the production-spec vehicle is still some time away, which is expected to take place in 2024.Tata CURVV Electric SUV Coupe ConceptTata Curvv is a mid size SUV coupe, which will sit above the Nexon in the company line-up. Tata Motors has said that this is not a new gen Nexon, but an all new car, based on a new platform. Take a look at the Tata CURVV concept walkaround in the video below.[embedded content][embedded content]While the concept showcases a battery-powered version, Tata Motors is also likely to develop new IC engine powertrains. Petrol or diesel engine options could be on offer in the future. Hybrid will not be on offer. Tata CURVV production spec petrol or diesel SUV will take on the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, etc. It will sit between the Nexon and Harrier in company lineup.Tata CURVV – Exterior DesignTata Motors has built the CURVV on design philosophy – Less is More. In the front, Tata CURVV electric features an LED DRL running across the width of the bonnet crease. Triangular LED elements are seen on the front bumper which might serve as the main headlamp cluster.Tata CURVV Electric SUV Coupe ConceptOther notable highlights include grey alloys with a machine-cut design and a sloping Coupe-like roofline. It gets an EV badging to notify its powertrain. Given how many production cars from Tata resemble their pre-production concept counterparts, we expect the final electric Coupe SUV to be more or less similar to its concept shown.Mr. Shailesh Chandra – Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. ecstatically said – “With a fantastic year gone by, it gives me immense pleasure to announce a flying start to the new year, with a brand new ‘promise’, a brand new ‘thought’ and a brand new ‘design’ – all put together in this magnificent Electric SUV Concept – CURVV. Our focus here has been to enable customers with a product option that is the perfect amalgamation of modern functionality and design. With a robust SUV DNA at its core, and a plethora of new age materials, features and interfaces, we are confident that this Coupe Concept will redefine mainstream SUV design. Furthermore, with the concept CURVV, we now enter the Generation 2 EV architecture which will further enhance the adoption of EVs in India by overcoming the current barriers. With this new architecture, we will strengthen the key pillars of Range, Performance and Technology, while retaining Safety and Reliability as hygiene offerings.”Tata CURVV Electric SUV Coupe ConceptTechnical HighlightsNew Tata CURVV Coupe SUV will likely have a 50mm longer wheelbase. Overall length will likely stand at around the 4.3 metre mark, putting it into the category of mid-size SUVs like Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and others. Coming to powertrain, CURVV electric SUV coupe is expected to feature next generation of EV powertrain from Tata Motors. It will deliver more power, more range. New gen tech features will also be on offer. Tata CURVV electric is aimed to offer a range of 500 kms on full charge.Tata Motors say, “Generation 2 EV architecture will be advanced, flexible and capable of offering multi-powertrain options. Products on this architecture will be crafted to deliver a higher range while retaining the credibility and reliability standards set by the Generation 1 products powered by Ziptron.” As far as its IC derivative is concerned, Curvv Coupe could be powered by a larger 1.5-litre turbo petrol mill. The 1.5-litre diesel engine from the regular Nexon could also be carried forward by upgrading it to make it compatible with the upcoming BS6 Stage 2 norms. More

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      Upcoming Mahindra XUV900 Coupe Electric SUV Sketch Render

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      Among the upcoming Born Electric SUVs from Mahindra, the XUV900 Coupe SUV is expected to be the flagship model in the lineupMahindra XUV900 Electric – Render SketchMahindra has been touted to make a grand re-entry into the electric mobility space with multiple new offerings. The carmaker recently teased three upcoming electric SUVs which are slated to make their maiden appearance in July this year, most probably as pre-production concepts.A lot of speculations have been made in regards to electric vehicle (EV) technologies, especially the platforms to be utilised by the upcoming battery-powered cars. More significant of those are the Born EV platforms which will underpin brand new electric cars and not battery-powered derivatives of IC engine models.Mahindra ‘Born Electric’ SUVsDubbed as the ‘Born Electric Vision’, all three electric SUVs teased have reportedly been designed and conceptualised by Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (MADE). It is the automaker’s global design centre based in the United Kingdom and headed by Pratap Bose. The three electric models revealed in the teaser video comprises a compact SUV, a mid-size SUV and a Coupe SUV.All three electric SUVs will be underpinned by a new bespoke EV platform. Out of the three, the Coupe SUV body style has been in discussion earlier. It should be noted that Mahindra filed a trademark for XUV900 last year which is expected to be the brand’s upcoming flagship offering. Considering recent developments, in all likelihood, the upcoming Coupe electric SUV could don the XUV900 trademark. Automotive design artist, SRK Designs has shared a render sketch of XUV900 coupe electric SUV.[embedded content][embedded content]XUV900 Coupe Electric SUVDesign of XUV900 is expected to borrow inspiration from the XUV Aero Concept which made its maiden public appearance at the 2016 edition of Auto Expo. Exterior highlights of the XUV900 Coupe include body panels like front fenders, hood and front doors that could be borrowed from the XUV Aero Concept. Internally condemned as W620, this upcoming Coupe SUV could also draw styling cues from XUV700 since it is based on the brand’s latest design philosophy.A few months back, Mahindra greenlit the development of the production-spec model of XUV900 which is slated to make its debut in 2024. In September last year, reports surfaced online which revealed that a working prototype of a fully electric XUV700 is ready. This prototype EV will be powered by a 54kWh battery pack sending power to one or more electric motors.This battery pack could also be offered in the XUV900 Coupe electric SUV. However, details at the moment are far too scarce to make an accurate assumption. More details are expected to come our way once the concept prototypes are unveiled by Mahindra in July this year.Other Mahindra Electric SUVsOther two models in the upcoming ‘Born Electric Vision’ are expected to be XUV400 and XUV700 Electric. The former is expected to be a fully-electric version of XUV300 otherwise commonly referred to as the eXUV300. A concept prototype of the same has already been showcased at the last edition of AutoExpo in 2020. Recently, a heavily camouflaged mule of the compact electric SUV was spotted testing on roads. More

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      2022 Nissan Leaf Electric Car Spied Testing In Delhi NCR

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      There has been no official word from Nissan on launch of the Leaf electric in India yetNissan Leaf Electric SpiedWith growing impetus for electric vehicles (EVs) in India, many automakers are vying to make a mark in the sustainable mobility space. Nissan is one such brand that has been contemplating bringing an EV to India for a very long time. However, the company hasn’t been able to put its plans up and running.Recently, a fully undisguised prototype of Nissan Leaf was spotted testing on streets of Delhi NCR. Latest spy image of this test mule is credited to automotive enthusiast Swarup Mishra in which the fully-electric hatchback is seen wearing a green registration plate.Nissan Leaf spied in IndiaThe test mule is seen wrapped in a red paint scheme with only its rear end visible. That said, it isn’t the first time that the electric hatchback has been spied testing in India. Back in 2019, Leaf was spied on Indian roads on multiple occasions which had sparked rumours of its launch in the country.Earlier in November last year, Nissan CEO, Makoto Uchida, in an interaction with a leading newspaper confirmed that the company is looking to launch an EV in India. However, he declined to comment on specific details of this upcoming product or an expected launch timeline. We believe that the upcoming EV from Nissan is most likely to be Leaf since it has already been put to test on Indian roads in a number of instances.Nissan Leaf Electric SpiedNissan Leaf is one of the most popular electric cars in the world. By Feb 2022, global sales of Nissan Leaf crossed the 5.22 lakh mark. It has been on sale since 2010 in over fifty overseas markets of Europe, Asia and Latin America and even received a generation upgrade in 2017.In India, Nissan could bring the electric hatchback as a fully imported model via CBU route from Japan, at least initially till the brand is able to create a sizable consumer base. If and when launched, it could be priced around the Rs 40 lakh mark and will serve as an affordable alternative to MINI Cooper Electric and the upcoming Volvo XC40 Recharge.Expected Features & Powertrain SpecsBeing a CBU product, Leaf is expected to be very well loaded. It is expected to include features like ProPilot single-lane autonomous driving along with a semi-autonomous driving system and e-Pedal mode for one-pedal driving. It is also likely to be equipped with an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) which will offer a range of safety features like lane departure warning, blind-spot warning and emergency braking system to name a few.Powering Leaf will be an EM57 electric motor that derives its energy from a 40 kWh Li-ion battery pack. This powertrain returns an output of 146 bhp and 320 Nm of peak torque. It claims an estimated range of 240km on a single charge as per NEDC. Nissan offers two types of AC chargers with Leaf- a 3kW unit and a 6kW unit. The former takes 16 hours for the battery to rejuvenate while the latter makes it in 8 hours. More

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      All New Tata Electric SUV Concept Teased – It Is Not Nexon EV

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      Tata Motors will unveil an all new electric SUV concept on 6th April 2022 – Could it be the next update of Sierra EV concept?New Tata Electric SUV TeaserTalk about updated Tata Nexon EV with longer range, bigger battery and revised design – have been doing rounds for quite some time. When Tata Motors first announced that they are planning to unveil something new on 6th April 2022, most of us thought it was the new Nexon EV 2022 version. But that is not the case.The latest teaser shared by Tata Motors confirms that it is not the new Nexon EV. It is an SUV and an EV, but not the Nexon EV. Tata Motors says that this is an all new electric SUV concept, which will make global debut on 6th April 2022.New Tata Motors Electric SUV ConceptTeaser of the new Tata electric SUV concept barely reveals much. We do get a glimpse of the front. It features LED DRL that runs across the width, above the Tata logo, on the bonnet crease through the side and ending into the ORVMs. Headlights are placed on the lower bumper, in triangle shaped housing.We also get a view of the alloys in the teaser below. New Tata Electric SUV Concept is seen with grey alloys with machine cut design elements. There is EV badging too, as well as the Tata logo at the rear. Tata Motors says – Embrace what lies beyond the unknown and Discover Different.Embrace what lies beyond the unknown and #DiscoverDifferentWatch Our Brand-New Electric SUV Concept on 06.04.2022 at 12PM ISTKnow more: https://t.co/9509vNm7Q9#EvolveToElectric pic.twitter.com/vTVWpXUM9E— Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited (@Tatamotorsev) April 2, 2022Tata Sierra Electric SUVBack at the 2020 Auto Expo, Tata Sierra EV concept was showcased. Tata has already resurrected the Safari name badge as the larger Harrier. So one was hopeful that at some point Sierra moves from concept to production.Sierra carries forward the design of Sierra from years ago. It did get a good response from fans, visitors as well as the media. Thanks to this, and the growing demand for electric vehicles in India, Tata Motors plans to launch Sierra as an Electric-only vehicle in the coming years.It will be built on an all new platform, and will not use current ALFA or OMEGA platforms – that are used for current gen Tata cars.This new platform is specially built to accommodate EVs and their needs – like optimising space for battery packs, etc. Tata has plans to launch 10 new electric vehicles in the coming 5 years.Tata Sierra EV Concept at 2022 Auto ExpoTata’s electric cars segment is already a subsidiary of its own, and investments are positively forward looking. Having already begun a journey where it leads from the front, Tata Motors is certainly keen on further sustainable growth. And this as we all know will be seamless when there are more EVs, and customers have a wider scope of choice. More