The wheelbase is pretty long at 2700 mm and it shows. I quite like the side profile.

BHPian CentreOfGravity recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I got the chance to participate in the Bharat Mobility Expo this year (link to thread) and had a close look at the new e-Vitara, Maruti's first electric car to be launched in India. Trust me, it is a different feeling to see and experience a car bang on the day it makes its public debut, more so when it has only been seen in pictures before! The on-paper specs and details of the car look fairly good, so I couldn't miss the opportunity to physically check out the car even if it meant waiting in line for 15 minutes. Do note that my observations may not be 100% accurate given the limited time of 10 minutes I spent with the car. With that out of the way, here are my thoughts and impressions:

- Personally, I liked the "eVX" name better. Nothing wrong with "eVitara", but I don't think they should have milked the Vitara brand further for a car that has nothing to do with that nameplate. Unrelated, but even Toyota are stretching their "Urban Cruiser" brand too with the Urban Cruiser EV, the eVitara's Toyota cousin.

- The eVitara looks like nothing else out there. Chances of you mistaking this for another car - except its upcoming Toyota twin - are slim. This car has a good road presence, although I felt it looks slightly narrow when viewed from the front when compared to other cars in this size range. As for the design, I'm not sure I love it, but I can't not like it either! It looks funky in a subdued way to my eyes. The cuts and lines in the design make me giggle as the car seems to be designed using a ruler . There is no curviness in the design elements at all:

- The wheelbase is pretty long at 2700mm and it shows. I quite like the side profile.

- The rear section, just like the front, looks edgy and simple, yet funky:

- Notice the gap between the actual taillight and the glass section. Weirdly cool!

- A look at the boot space. The loading lip is flat and seems to be at a decent height. The boot is not very tall though. The seats have a 40:20:40 split configuration:

- The boot floor opens up to reveal a styrofoam case in which the charging port and other tools are kept:

- Surprise surprise! You get a full-size spare tyre in the boot, and that too an alloy! Even the Honda City, which once stood out for offering a full-size spare alloy, doesn't offer it anymore after the June 2022 update. The tyre size is 225/55 R18:

- The armrest on the rear door pads is draped in fabric. Come on Maruti!

- Over to the rear bench. Please note that my only point of reference for backseat space among EVs is the Curvv.ev. The legroom and kneeroom are adequate, but I found the under-thigh support a little lacking. Also, I was sitting in a knees-up position thanks to the high floor. For a ~5'8" person like me, the headroom is alright:

When compared to the other ICE crossovers of comparable size, this car is not very spacious. However, it is roomier than the Curvv.ev and even the Grand Vitara (if you ignore the knees-up position relative to the GV). Make no mistake though, the Creta ICE is far superior in terms of overall space.

- The unimaginable has happened! Maruti FINALLY got rid of the ancient window switches which have been in production since 2005, literally before I was even born! A historic and revolutionary step indeed:

- A look at the door pad design. Again, very simple yet edgy-looking:

- There is ambient lighting too:

- The middle part of the seats is fabric. I hope this is not a cost-cutting exercise:

- The dashboard sure looks different from other Marutis on sale, but it isn't a huge step up in terms of quality. The perceived premiumness is thanks in part to the large screens. The tan brown trim on the dashboard is leatherette - at least that's what Maruti fooled you into believing, and that's what I believed too until I laid my hands on it, only to be then struck by a harsh jolt of realisation that it is actually a plastic trim albeit of good quality

- I'm not a fan of this two-spoke steering wheel design:

- A look at the centre console. The amount of fingerprints it attracts and reflections it throws is crazy. I don't like how the top part of the tan-brown insert isn't a straight line. It is not parallel to the touchscreen and this blows up my OCD:

- There is a little space beneath the console. Many electric cars have a cubby space in this area. A comparison of the under-console space with the Creta Electric, which I also saw at the Auto Expo:

- The glass roof is fixed, and that's perfectly alright. But why isn't it a panoramic unit? Moreover, the sunblind is manually operated, which is not okay considering the car's expected price and positioning:

- The relatively small number of roof-mounted buttons makes this area look empty. Only a mic, cabin light controls and an SOS button (which has an aircraft-style cover) are present. Unfortunately, I don't recall if the cabin lights are halogens or LEDs, but the picture makes me believe they're halogen units. If it's true, that's such a downer:

I must appreciate Suzuki for being willing to do something different and they have at least tried to make the eVitara modern in comparison to other Maruti cars - unlike their neighbour Honda, who can't seem to break free from the shackles of conservatism. As ironic as it sounds, I am of the opinion that the eVitara has a mechanical look and feel to it - in some ways, I quite like that. EVs these days are going all radical (read BE 6), while some others are just boring conversions (read Creta Electric and Nexon.ev). This car is a refreshing born-electric vehicle whose looks do not scream at you. It's neither too in-your-face nor too boring.

However, the interiors are a let-down. There is a lot of cost-cutting in a product that is pegged to be Maruti's most premium yet, and the cabin is not as futuristic as the exteriors suggest. The eVitara is an EV that looks like it wants to be properly modern inside-out, but it is bounded by the Great Wall of Japan = Suzuki. It is unconventional in the most conventional of ways.

Speaking in context of the Indian car scene and the competition: The Mahindra BE 6 has truly democratized technology, features, performance, and range, and it has to be the top choice for an EV buyer shopping across price ranges in the 15-40 lakh bracket. For those who find it too much, there is the humble Creta Electric on the other end, which, although I find it plain, boring, and overpriced, might sell as it has the mighty "Creta" badge going for it. Somewhere in between, you have the stylish Curvv.ev which is gaining popularity thanks to its unique coupe design, features, and better range than its immediate rivals. The eVitara, then, definitely has its work cut out, as it has half a foot in radicality and the other one-and-a-half in simplicity. Its on-paper torque figure is very low - even some petrol cars from a segment below have more torque. To make matters worse, it was recently reported that it won't get the AWD variant at launch, which could have been a USP. The mundane interiors don't help its case either. I'm no expert, but I feel that people who want a radical EV may go all out and get the BE 6, while the Creta Electric would serve as the no-nonsense, family-friendly, practical option. The eVitara's only saving grace would be extremely competitive pricing. If Maruti want to snatch away a share of the pie, they need to price the car at around 16-16.5 lakhs for the base variant, and not more than 21.5-22.5 lakhs for the top-spec car. If they do decide to bring the AWD version at a later stage, I wouldn't spend more than a lakh extra on it.

I have mixed feelings about the eVitara. I'm waiting for it to hit showrooms and TDs to begin so that we have the complete picture of the car. Who knows, the driving experience might just turn things in its favour.

Thanks for reading. Cheers!

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Currently, Hyundai and its sister company Kia, source EV batteries from external supplies like LG Energy Solution and SK On.

In what could be one of the biggest news in the global EV scene in recent times, Hyundai has launched a new dedicated unit to develop and manufacture its own electric vehicle batteries. The carmaker has created a B Task Force (TFT) under its manufacturing division on April 7. The reason for this decision has been attributed to growing concerns of falling behind Chinese EV maker BYD, which recently unveiled a new battery that could deliver 400 km of range with just a five-minute charge.

The new task force comprises many of Hyundai Motor Group’s top battery experts. It is led by Executive Vice President Jung Jun-cheul, head of manufacturing. Key figures include Senior Vice President Kim Chang-hwan, who oversees EV energy solutions, Choi Jae-hoon, head of battery development, as well as Lee Woo-sung (electrification energy solutions), Seo Jung-hoon (battery design), and Kim Dong-geon (battery cell development).

Currently, Hyundai and its sister company Kia, source EV batteries from external suppliers like LG Energy Solution and SK On. While they do have an internal battery development division, its function is limited to working with partners to adapt external products for use in finished vehicles. Some Hyundai models like the Kona Electric, Casper Electric, and Kia’s EV3, already feature batteries co-developed by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution. Both companies launched a joint battery cell venture, HLI Green Power, in Indonesia last July.

In-house battery development lets automakers cut procurement costs and lower EV prices as well. BYD which started as a battery maker is now a full-scale EV maker and has taken the world EV market by storm. BYD recently overtook Tesla as the world’s top EV seller, while Tesla sales have been dropping faster by the day. The new “Super e-Platform” capable of delivering 400 kilometres of range with just five minutes of charging has made BYD a force to be reckoned with.

With its new battery development unit, Hyundai will be looking to replicate the success of BYD and take the fight to the Chinese EV maker.

Source: The Chosun Daily

I liked the seats, quite supportive and is a mix of leatherette/fabric. I always found fabric seats more supportive and Suzuki have done good job.

BHPian PrideRed recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

The e-Vitara was on display inside Bagmane Techpark, near the food court. Car looks quite good and is about the size of Creta. Did not like front design as much. Alloy wheel design is quite bad.

Interior looks nice and more upmarket, better than most Suzuki cars. AC vents looks quite good, metallic accents is a nice touch. I liked the seats, quite supportive and is a mix of leatherette/fabric. I always found fabric seats more supportive and Suzuki have done good job. Space at rear is okayish, may be the front seats weren't set high, I couldn't put my feet under front seat. Knee room is decent for folks under 5'10. Car didn't have charge hence, boot could not be opened.

Bookings not open yet, nor have test drives started.

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These developments are coming in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariff war which has had a big impact on automakers worldwide.

The European Union and China are agreeing to set minimum prices for Chinese-made electric vehicles instead of tariffs imposed by the EU last year. German newspaper Handelsblatt reported earlier on Thursday that negotiations had begun.

It is reported that EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic spoke with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in the last 24 hours, and both sides agreed to look into setting minimum prices, an EU spokesperson said.

The EU increased tariffs on Chinese-built EVs to as much as 45.3% last October. The European Commission has said it is willing to continue negotiating an alternative to tariffs with China. Currently, the tariffs stand at 17.0% for vehicles made by BYD, 18.8% for Geely and 35.3% for SAIC, on top of the EU's standard car import duty of 10%.

These developments are coming in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariff war, which has had a big impact on automakers worldwide. These include Europe and China, which are the United States’ closest trading partners.

German auto industry association VDA welcomed the talks between the EU and China, calling the duties a "mistake" and advocating for a negotiated solution. "Regardless of current global developments, it must also be discussed here how to reduce obstacles and distortions in international trade, rather than building new hurdles," VDA said on Thursday.

German carmakers, which made a third of their sales last year in China, opposed the tariffs, worried about a trade conflict with the country's second most important trading partner after the U.S.

The deal between the EU and China could also cast a big blow to Tesla. The carmaker has seen a major decline in sales in Europe in recent times, despite being a dominant player in the market. If Chinese electric vehicles start bringing in the numbers after the deal, it would easily be a death blow to Tesla on the continent.

Source: Reuters

The updated Ioniq 6 gets a shark nose design slim LED daytime running lamps and headlamps positioned lower in the redesigned bumper.

Hyundai revealed the Ioniq 6 facelift at the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show. Its front is completely designed, and a N Line variant has also been introduced.

The updated Ioniq 6 gets a shark nose design, slim LED daytime running lamps and headlamps positioned lower in the redesigned bumper. It also features a wide grille and air intakes. The side gets black garnish on the lower part of the doors. At the rear, the car features an LED light bar, and a large ducktail lip spoiler has been added. The rear bumper gets chrome garnish elements.

On the inside, the Ioniq 6 facelift gets a new three-spoke steering wheel, premium door trim materials, a restyled centre console and a larger climate control display.

Hyundai also unveiled the Ioniq 6 N Line, which takes inspiration from the RN22e Rolling Lab released in 2022. It gets aggressively styled front and rear bumpers.  There is a lot of black treatment at the rear, and the car gets a two-dimensional Parametric Pixel taillamp design.

The is no information on updates to the powertrain. The Ioniq 6 currently comes with 53 kWh and 77.4 kWh battery pack options in RWD and AWD guise. It gets power outputs of 149 BHP (53 kWh) and 225 BHP (77.4 kWh) in RWD and 320 BHP (77.4 kWh) in the AWD version.

Hyundai also dropped a teaser of the upcoming Ioniq 6 N during the product presentation of the Ioniq 6. It will be revealed in July later this year. The teaser reveals a bespoke rear end with new LED tail lamps and a large rear wing.

205 BHP/250nm is no way slow infact way faster than normal ICE cars as they take their sweet time to reach and this is instant(almost).

BHPian vdk recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Got my iX1 LWB delivered almost month ago, if you have any question let me know. For me it was easy choice, as there is no comparable value proposition with brand name. Trust me people get fooled thinking its an X5.

Just got back from Pa anchgani/Mahabaleshwar trip (around 550km round trip).

Apart from 360 camera and ventilated seats I don't see anything else is missing that add comfort to real life.

Everything is great specifically the battery. I just got home with 70% battery left, I charged my car till 92% at Pune. i.e. in just 22% battery I did Pune - Thane(137km)

I heard many people say less power/torque which is weird. 205 BHP/250nm is no way slow infact way faster than normal ICE cars as they take their sweet time to reach and this is instant(almost). I almost drove 1k km in a month's time and I am loving it.

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The new Nissan electric city car is expected to sit below the Micra and the Leaf and Juke EVs in the carmaker’s European EV line-up.

Nissan is set to launch a new small electric city car in 2026. The car will be based on the Renault Twingo and will be made in RHD for the UK market.

It's based on Renault’s Ampr Small EV platform (referred to by Nissan as CMF-BEV), which is also used by the larger Renault 5. Under the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, Renault is already set to produce a new electric Micra in 2026.

The new Nissan electric city car is expected to sit below the Micra and the Leaf and Juke EVs in the carmaker’s European EV line-up. Nissan said that it would design the car and that it fitted its “roadmap for reducing development costs and time”.

One of Nissan’s priorities for its revival plan is to reduce time in launching new models to the market, especially after the failed Honda merger talks.

Renault boss Luca de Meo had previously talked about launching an RHD version of the Twingo. He said that it would depend on a deal with Nissan to produce the sibling model.

Under the existing Alliance agreement, Renault has taken the lead on developing the Ampr Small/CMF-BEV platform while Nissan is developing the Ampr Medium/CMF-EV platform for larger models.

Additionally, the Renault Group and Nissan have agreed to a new Alliance Agreement, in which the "lock-up undertaking" of the cross-shareholding has been reduced from 15% to 10%.

Also, the Renault Group is set to acquire 51% of the pair's Indian joint venture, Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd, that's currently held by Nissan. This is part of Renault’s bigger plan to invest in its India operations, which in turn will help Nissan cut costs, thus benefitting its revival plan. The new agreement will ensure that ongoing projects between the two manufacturers will continue and that both will continue to jointly own their technology and business centres in the country.

As far as India goes, Nissan recently announced the launch of a mid-size MPV based on the Renault Triber and a mid-size Renault Duster-based SUV. Both are slated for an FY2026 launch.

Source: Autocar UK

A sub 4m car makes sense for occasional city use but wife is not high on another hatchback.

BHPian supertinu recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hey Folks, need some advice around what car to buy for my 2nd car. Let me set some context and background.

Current situation - We are a 2 car household. Primary car is our XUV700 D AT which we bought fairly recently 6m ago and its my daily driver as well as road trip companion. Our 2nd car is a 2012 Ford Figo which my wife uses mainly for school pickup/drop and once in a while errands.

Requirement - A sub 4m car makes sense for occasional city use but wife is not high on another hatchback, so after checking out small SUVs we did like the Skoda Kylaq. Usage of the car will be 100-200km per month max and I intend to keep the car for 15+yrs and hopefully with low maintenance so DSG cars are out of question. Despite being city car preference is to have something with 5 star safety rating and decent space for 4 adults. We could use it for airport hops or nearby day trips.

Now comes the confusion. Even then 2nd from top model of KYlaq in BLR costs around 15 lakhs and pricing of other SUVs like Nexon, Venue, Sonet are similar ranging from 15-18 lakhs on road. Top model of Punch EV LR is 15 lakh and so is Nexon EV MR.

What does the forum think? Would EV make more sense here given its more future ready, no emissions, hopefully lower maintenance? Would battery last 15yrs given that charge cycles will be less? My apt allows charging socket in parking which makes it easier to handle charging.

Here's what BHPian It's Magic replied:

With a monthly running of 100–200 km, I would recommend sticking with petrol cars and not opting for EVs. EVs make more sense for high usage, such as annual running exceeding 15,000 or 20,000 km.

Looking at your post, it seems you are more inclined towards the top-end variant of any car. In that case, you would need to be prepared to pay upwards of 12 lakhs for most of the compact SUV options available. If you both like the Skoda Kodiaq, you can go for it. It’s got a 5-star safety rating, which is essential for you, and it’s a very good car to drive. The only thing I would advise you to check is the proximity of a Skoda service centre to your location.

In my opinion, a hatchback suits your requirements better and would save you money as well. It would be easier to drive in the city. For long drives, you already have the Mahindra XUV700.

Best Wishes!

Here's what BHPian yedukrishnan199 replied:

Now, considering your requirements, a small EV doesn't make much sense if you are paying a premium for it over its ICE counterpart, so EVs like the Tiago.EV, Tigor.EV, Punch.EV, etc cost a lot more (at least 1.50 to 2 lakhs) than their ICE counterparts with similar feature sets and considering your low running, the extra investment isn't worth it. Moreover, considering decent space, the Comet EV is also out of the question.

That leaves ICE cars and a few EVs with prices similar to their ICE counterparts. So the cars like Nexon, Curvv, Creta, etc come up to the picture, but as they get more and more expensive when going towards the top-end variants, where the prices of the ICE and EV are the same.

For example, taking the Nexon as an example, the Nexon Creative 1.2 Petrol AMT costs 14.81 lakhs OTR, whereas the Creative 45 EV costs almost the same at 14.88 lakhs OTR in this case, the EV is a good option to consider owing to lower fuel costs. lower service costs and the like, but still the chance of it lasting 15 years is a question.

Similar is the case of the Curvv, where the Creative Plus Hyperion GDI Petrol DCA costs the same as the Accomplished 55 OTR, around 20.80 lakhs.

Ditto the Creta and the Creta EV as well.

So in these cases, although you could get an ICE or its similar EV counterpart for the same price on-road, where the EV seems a good option owing to lower fuel costs, your requirement for maintaining it for a long time, 15 years, is what makes the decision difficult for the EV.

EV technology is improving at a rapid pace, and the current EVs will get outdated in a few years, so they don't hold their value for long. Usually, EVs tend to last for around 8 to 10 years or more, but 15 seems a bit too much to expect.

So you could either go for these EVs, which are at par on price on the road with ICE cars, or you could go for ICE cars, which usually should hold their value for longer.

Regardless, here are the best options for your needs:

1. Tata Punch Creative Plus (S) AMT
It costs under 13 lakhs OTR and should be a better pick as compared to its EV counterpart, owing to the price difference of over 2 lakhs. a small, safe car (5-star GNCAP) that is an all-rounder and one of the best-selling cars from Tata.

2. Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus AT
At 15.36 lakhs OTR, the Kylaq is a small but fun SUV and should meet all your needs to the T.

3. Tata Nexon EV 45
The Nexon EV 45 is a great choice currently when compared to its ICE counterparts and is priced quite well, and is an option worth considering.

Other options are the XUV 3XO AT and Nexon AMT, which are quite expensive considering the higher-spec AT variants.

Here's what BHPian sharmanova replied:

Your requirements scream the Hyundai Exter AMT!

Sub-4M - check
Low maintenance - check
Reliability - check
Space - check

Here's what BHPian IshaanIan replied:

If you want to keep the car for another 15+ years there is no point looking at 1st generation EV products right now. If it absolutely must be an SUV, then do look into more practical options like the Jimny, Brezza etc. at the end of the day these are NA motors that will definitely have fewer issues than direct injection turbo charged motors. The Jimny is also one of the narrowest vehicles currently available to buy. That coupled with its looks (middle class g-wagon) makes it very popular amongst mothers and wives.

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Ford's EV shifter also has small motors built into the base that provide force feedback through the lever.

Electric cars have different powertrains from their ICE counterparts, but not only that, the whole driving experience is also way apart. But nowadays manufacturers are trying to bridge that gap by trying out new tech.

Ford has recently patented a manual gear shifter for EVs. The patent, titled Shifter Assembly For Electric Vehicle, was published on March 20 and shows a traditional gear stick mounted in a box. But there is a difference.

In a regular car, it would be mounted on the transmission tunnel and connected via mechanical linkages to a manual transmission. Here, it simply sits on a raised section of the floor and connects to various actuators that are managed by an electronic power controller. According to the patent, this "manages the flow of electrical energy delivered by the battery pack, controlling the speed of the motors and the torque each motor produces."

Ford's EV shifter also has small motors built into the base that provide force feedback through the lever. This way, you will feel the same vibrations you get when shifting gears in say, a powerful V8 engine. It provides some notchy resistance when you move through the “gears”. And since most EVs don't have transmissions, the entire assembly can be retracted if you want to drive normally.

As it stands, this is only a patent for now. It was filed by Ford in 2023, and there is no word on when and if it will become a reality. But if it does, it will surely add a much-needed spunk to the whole EV driving experience.

But Ford is not alone. Hyundai has simulated paddle shifters on the Ioniq 5 N, and Toyota is working on the lines of a stick shift with clutch and the works on the Lexus RZ.

Source: Inside EVs

At the rear, there are new Cyberster-inspired tail lamps connected by a light bar, roof spoiler and a new bumper.

MG has unveiled the new MG4 EV hatchback in China. The new model has been significantly updated compared to its predecessor. It will be the carmaker's first global model for 2025.

Up front, the MG4 features a sloping bonnet flanked by LED headlamps and a new air intake design. The front bumper is also new and features vertical slats on either side. The sculpted front fenders give the MG4 a very sporty stance. It comes with the option of 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels. The charging port sits in the left front fender of the car. There are conventional door handles instead of the flush type, which is the trend today. At the rear, there are new Cyberster-inspired tail lamps connected by a light bar, roof spoiler and a new bumper.

The new MG4 is also larger than the model it replaces. Dimensions-wise, it measures 4,395 mm long, 1,842 mm wide, and 1,551 mm tall, and has a 2,750 mm wheelbase. This makes it 108 mm longer, 6 mm wider, and 35 taller than the first-gen, while the wheelbase has grown by 45 mm.

The new MG4 will be powered by a single electric motor good for 161 BHP, and will have a top speed of 160 kph. For reference, the older car put out 168 BHP. It also came in a 4WD XPower variant with two electric motors putting out 422 bhp.

The new MG4 is expected to launch in China in April, possibly at the Shanghai Auto Show, followed by Europe in Q4 2025.

Source: CarNewsChina