It is better late than never: Suzuki has just presented at the Delhi show its 100% electric concept called eVX and planned for 2025.
Suzuki is one of the last Japanese manufacturers to position itself on a 100% electric car. It is currently only a concept SUV named eVX. It took time for the manufacturer to find the right recipe to get started. It was at the Delhi Motor Show that the brand has just presented its first electric vehicle on January 11, 2023, which will go into production in 2025.
We would have liked the manufacturer to be bold by embarking on the segment, still little exploited, of small electric city cars. An electric Suzuki Swift, or an Ignis, could certainly be a hit in France and Europe. Let’s be realistic, however, it is difficult to enter the electric market with a small vehicle with low margins. It is better to aim for a segment of vehicles that are a little more comfortable and spacious to get started on these new engines. Especially since this future electric model will be aimed simultaneously at Europe and Asia, including India, which represents a large market for the brand.
Towards a first electric SUV of the same size as a Suzuki S-Cross
Suzuki does not only offer city cars in the catalog. On the contrary, the brand has several recognized references in the SUV segment: Vitara, S-Cross and Jimny. It is also a vehicle 4.30 m long, corresponding to the Suzuki S-Cross, which has just been presented in the form of the concept of the future electric SUV.
With its 4×4 expertise, Suzuki is expected to offer a 4WD-equipped model, reminiscent of the driving experience of other models from the brand.
What is surprising, however, is the design of this eVX concept. Suzuki has not accustomed us to offering models with such muscular lines. This eVX is resolutely turned towards something new for the brand, more anchored in the current trend. However, we will have to see what will remain of it by its final presentation in 2024 or 2025.
Few details on the technical characteristics of the eVX
The Japanese manufacturer does not advance too much on the technical characteristics of its future electric model.
We know the dimensions of the concept: 4.30 m long, 1.80 m wide and 1.60 m high. However, nothing is known about the platform that will be used for this model. Will it be a platform dedicated to future electric vehicles, a platform adapted from a hybrid model or a platform shared with Toyota? Suzuki already includes 2 models shared with the other Japanese manufacturer. It would therefore not be surprising to learn that the two brands are sharing yet another collaboration to offer an electric model in less than 3 years.
We still know the battery capacity that should be integrated: 60 kWh. A battery that should be sufficient to offer versatility to this electric model, without weighing it down too much. 60 kWh for a 4.30 m vehicle is the right compromise on paper.
Suzuki also communicates on a range of 550 km, but established on the Indian approval cycle (MIDC). It seems far too optimistic to be real. We will rather project a range of between 400 and 450 km (in the wltp cycle) for a Compact SUV type vehicle with a 60 kWh battery. It seemed more realistic.
In the meantime, we are happy to see that Suzuki is finally getting into the electric race, albeit even later than the other Japanese brands. But, if the brand manages to develop models that remain affordable, one of the pillars of Suzuki’s DNA, we are ready to wait until 2025. Then the brand will have to pass the second, if it wants to be able to continue to market vehicles in Europe.
