Czech startup An all-electric SUV modeled after the Force Gurkha has been unveiled by MW Motors. The business claims that the new EV SUV, dubbed the Spartan 2.0, has a 240 km range.
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Force Gurkha-based Spartan 2.0: what’s different?
Force Motors provides the Spartan 2.0’s bodyshell, suspension, off-road gear, ladder frame chassis, and interior components. A company in China provides the battery, and MW Motors has completed all other necessary tasks to prepare the car.
Customers of the original Spartan EV, a 1971 conversion of the UAZ Hunter, a Russian military 4×4 vehicle, from all over Europe, are said to have provided input to the brand’s engineers. The UAZ SUV that we just drove in India is actually a civilian variant of the UAZ Hunter.
Force Gurkha-based Spartan 2.0: EV engine
176 horsepower and a massive 1,075 Nm of torque are sent through a transfer case by a single motor in place of a gearbox, providing manually selectable two- or four-wheel drive with high and low ranges. Additionally, hill descent control and manually locking front and rear differentials are included. According to MW Motors, the under-bonnet battery’s 240km range and usable capacity of 57.4kWh are sufficient for the typical customer’s workweek.
With charging speeds reaching up to 90kW, it should take somewhat more than 30 minutes to fill to 20–80%. It is feasible to charge devices in both directions, meaning that tools and other equipment can be powered by 230V.
Force Gurkha-based Spartan 2.0: more information
The Spartan 2.0 is larger than the Jimny but much smaller than most off-roaders at 4,116mm in length and 1,812mm wide. This makes maneuvering in confined areas easier. Its breakover angle is assessed to be 25 degrees, while its approach and departure angles are recorded as 38 and 35 degrees, respectively. The kerb weight of the Gurkha-based Spartan 2.0 is 2,350 kg, and it can carry and tow loads weighing 1,025 kg and 3,000 kg, respectively. Coil springs and an anti-roll bar in the front and back handle suspension responsibilities.
The interior of the Spartan 2.0 hasn’t changed much; it still resembles the Gurkha that’s sold in India. With two cloth-upholstered adjustable seats, a two-way adjustable steering wheel, electric windows, air conditioning, a digital instrument display, and an infotainment touchscreen, the cabin is durable yet competitively equipped. Similar to the Jimny 3-door, the Spartan 2.0 is only available as a two-seat SUV in several European regions including the UK since it is marketed as a commercial vehicle.
Will the Force Gurkha EV be introduced in India?
An all-EV SUV modeled by the Gurkha might be a real tough, vintage competitor to the Thar EV, which was shown off in concept form last year. On that front, though, Force Motors has not released any information. However, this year, Mahindra and Force will both be releasing five-door, diesel-powered variants of the Thar and Gurkha, respectively.