Maruti Suzuki and Toyota aim to foray into the Indian electric vehicle segment in coming years. According to a fresh media report, both automakers are jointly working on an electric mid-size SUV that will arrive sometime in 2025. The new Maruti electric SUV will be manufactured in Suzuki’s Gujarat based plant and exported to global markets.
Here’re key details of the upcoming new Maruti Suzuki electric SUV (codenamed YY8) that we know so far.
ALL-NEW DESIGN & PLATFORM
The new Maruti electric car is likely to carry a new, futuristic design language that will be different from the company’s existing IC engine powered vehicles. It will be built on a skateboard 27PL platform, which is essentially derived from Toyotas 40PL global architecture. The latter has no engine compartment, transmission tunnel and centre console and enables designers to create ample cabin space. The same architecture will be used for Toyota’s electric SUV, but its styling will be different from Maruti Suzuki’s electric car.
BIGGER THAN CRETA
Dimensionally, the new Maruti electric SUV will be bigger than the Creta that measures 4300mm in length, 1790mm in width and 1620-1635mm in height. It will be as big as the MG ZS EV. The new EV will have 2,700mm long wheelbase. Its overall length, width and height will stand at 4275mm, 1880mm and 1640mm respectively.
POWER & RANGE
Maruti YY8 electric SUV is reported to be offered with both 2WD (two-wheel drive) and AWD (all-wheel drive) configurations. The 2WD system will be available on the entry-level variants packed with a 48kWh battery pack and a 138bhp electric motor. Its range will be around 400km under standard test conditions. The 4WD variants will come with a bigger 59kWh battery pack and two electric motors delivering a combined power of 170bhp. In real world conditions, it’s reported to offer a range of up to 500km.
ESTIMATED PRICE
With high level of localization, the new Maruti electric SUV is estimated to be priced between Rs 13 – Rs 15 lakh. If it happens, it will be more affordable than India’s top-selling electric car – Tata Nexon EV – that costs from Rs 14.29 lakh to Rs 16.90 lakh (all, ex-showroom). If reports are to be believed, the Indo-Japanese automaker will source battery pack from TDSG – the joint venture between Suzuki Motor Corp, Toshiba Corp and Denso Corp.
