An enormous milestone in Suzuki’s 115-year-history simply occurred: the Japanese automaker revealed its first electrical manufacturing automobile. Known as the E Vitara (stylized as e Vitara, however that appears annoying) it’s a small crossover that can be inbuilt India and offered there in addition to in Japan and Europe. Based mostly on the eVX idea from final yr, the E Vitara is fairly cute. Greater than being simply cute, it seems like Moo Deng.
You understand, Moo Deng, the pygmy hippopotamus that was born on July 10 this yr within the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand. She turned a viral sensation as a result of she is so chunky and slippery and cute and offended on a regular basis. She kinda completely captured the top of Brat summer season and the start of Brat autumn, together with how everyone seems to be feeling about tomorrow.
You’ll be able to’t inform me the Suzuki E Vitara doesn’t appear like Moo Deng. They’re each formed like a Tootsie Roll, thick within the center, not very tall and stubby on the ends, with some chunky bodywork parts. They each have an offended face with expressive eyes and an open mouth. The E Vitara seems prefer it desires to be my good friend but additionally chunk my sneakers, identical to Moo Deng. Suzuki says the E Vitara is an “Emotional Versatile Cruiser,” which is how Moo Deng would describe herself, I guess.
I believe Moo Deng would additionally approve of the E Vitara’s inside, which seems fairly cool. Suzuki says it has “tough-looking panels,” although it doesn’t say whether or not the supplies are literally robust or not. I just like the shapes of the air vents, door panels and heart console, and it actually seems nicer than different trendy Suzukis.
The E Vitara is constructed on a brand new HEARTECT-e platform developed only for EVs, and it has an all-wheel-drive system referred to as ALLGRIP-e that has an impartial electrical axle at every finish. There’s a Path mode that may apply the brakes to a spinning wheel and distribute torque to the opposite finish for higher traction. Have a look at Moo Deng’s lil ft! She has ALLGRIP-e, too.
Suzuki will supply the E Vitara in a front-wheel-drive base mannequin that has a 49-kWh battery pack and a single motor with 142 horsepower. You’ll be able to improve to a 61-kWh battery that ups output to 172 hp and the identical 139 pound-feet of torque; going for the AWD mannequin provides a 64-hp motor on the rear for a complete of 181 hp and 221 lb-ft. In its lightest FWD kind the E Vitara weighs 3,752 kilos whereas the AWD mannequin is as much as 4,187 kilos. At 168.3 inches lengthy and 64.4 inches tall, the E Vitara is about the identical peak and a pair inches shorter in size than the brand new Nissan Kicks.
Manufacturing of the E Vitara will begin in India in spring 2025, with the automobile happening sale that summer season. Suzuki, in the event you’re listening and in the event you’re sensible, it is advisable to get Moo Deng within the advert campaigns.
