Mahindra is working on a 4-door variant of its all-electric e2o which was recently spied testing in Bangalore and will be focused for export to European markets after launch. It is likely to be called e2o Sports.
The first all-electric car from India was developed by Mahindra in the form of the e2o, however the eco-friendly product is not doing so well on the sales front as the car hardly sells in India, but it has been a success in foreign markets. The Indian automaker has confirmed that it is working on a four-door variant of the car which is currently sold in two-door form and the new variant was recently spied testing in Bangalore. Likely to be called e2o Sports, the EV is expected to launch this year itself.
The spied images do not reveal much due to the heavy camouflage but the overall structure of the four-door Mahindra e2o can be seen which looks similar to that of the existing one, however it seems to be extended to suit the four-door body style and the wheelbase also seems to have increased considerably. The new variant is expected to be similar to the two-door variant with respect to the interior and most of the exterior parts. However, it is expected to be draw juice from a more powerful motor for better performance and increased range.
The current variant of the Mahindra e2o is powered by a 19 kW (25.47 BHP) electric motor that produces 53.9 Nm of torque while the range is limited to 100-120 kms with a top speed of 81 km/hr. This car along with its low range, two-door body style and high retail price makes it completely impractical for Indian buyers. Hence, launching the four-door variant in India would help in increasing sales, however the e2o Sports is only expected to be available for export to the European markets.
The four-door variant of the Mahindra e2o will come with the manufacturer’s Quick2Charge Technology and the electric car will have extra safety features as it is mainly developed for export to European countries. Mahindra has recently launched two of the most awaited products namely the TUV300 and KUV100, and both of them have created a buzz among buyers. The Indian automaker is expected to launch the SsangYong Tivoli compact SUV in India later this year and will showcase the same at the 2016 Auto Expo.
Source – AnythingOnWheels
