An all-electric version of the sixth-generation Suzuki Wagon R has been showcased at the MOVE Summit in New Delhi today. The development is in sync with a report that states Maruti Suzuki has been testing an all-electric version of the Wagon R, which it will share with Toyota in the Indian market.
The display car gets 'electric vehicle' decals all around. It gets two charging points - a regular port that can connect to a standard household electric socket and a fast charging port (also known as Direct Current Fast Chargers) that can quickly charge the battery pack to 80 per cent.
The WagonR EV that has been put on display at the MOVE Summit is reportedly one of the 50 test vehicles that have rolled off a prototype line at the company's manufacturing facility in Gurgaon. These EVs will be tested in Mumbai and Bengaluru before mass-produced EVs roll out in 2020-21. Suzuki will share the electric car with Toyota in the Indian market.
The Wagon R EV is said to draw power from a 72-volt system with a battery capacity of 10-25 KWH. The Toyota-badged all-electric Wagon R would retain the powerplant but is expected to carry enough styling changes to enjoy its own distinct identity. Toyota is likely to make changes to the soft parts like bumpers, radiator grille, and lights. The sheet metal will remain intact to keep the selling price competitive. The interior should get an upholstery change and a Toyota badge on the steering wheel.
Also Read: Suzuki & Toyota to share hybrid variants of Baleno & Vitara Brezza - Report
The India-spec Wagon R EV, unlike the demo units that are Japanese specification and employ the HEARTECT platform, will be based on the next generation Maruti Wagon R that is built on a strengthened current-gen platform. Powering the conventional variants of the next-gen Wagon R would be an updated version of the 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder K10B petrol engine that powers the current iteration. This engine outputs a maximum power of 67.04 bhp and a peak torque of 90 Nm. The reworked motor will be BSVI compliant. The 5-speed manual transmission and 5-speed AMT options will be carried over.
