Bengaluru-based Ultraviolette Automotive, has revealed the brand-new VX-100 platform that will power all of its future vehicles. The company has also launched the very first motorcycle to be powered by said platform, the X-47 Venom at an introductory price of Rs 2.65 lakh for the entry-level variant with 7.5kWh battery. The highest variant with the 11kwh battery in the new Afterburner Yellow colour costs Rs 4.12 lakh (also introductory).
All prices mentioned are ex-showroom, Bengaluru.
- Gets a new SRB-11 battery with 11kWh capacity
- Cruise control and 7-inch TFT display are other noteworthy features
- Introductory prices are applicable only to the first 5,000 buyers; will increase by Rs 35,000 after that
- Bookings open now, deliveries starting in November
Ultraviolette X-47 Venom: What’s changed?
New platform saves weight and improves range, among others
The major upgrade on the latest X-47 compared to before has come in the form of weight savings thanks to the improved platform, followed by the range. The base, 7.5kWh variant now weighs 180kg, which is a substantial 17kg lower than the previous X-47 with the 7kWh battery. The top Recon variant with an 11kWh battery, on the other hand, weighs 195kg, 13kg lower than the outgoing X-47 Recon with its 10.3kWh battery. Ultraviolette also claims an additional 20km range, taking the top-variant’s claimed range to 343km now. The base variant sees a 16km increase, with a claimed 227km range.
The noteworthy improvements are thanks to the new VX-100 platform which improves the battery, motor and motor controller. All three are lighter than before, while packing in more energy and also cool down faster as well. The improvements show up in two other areas as well, claims UV, sustained high performance and regen. Ballistic, UV’s fastest ride mode, is now available till 10 percent battery charge, as opposed to 30 percent earlier. Regenerative braking, on the other hand, is now available from 99 percent battery charge, as opposed to 90 percent earlier.
Elsewhere, the performance figures largely hover around the same numbers. On the Recon variant, peak power is 40hp (0.2hp lower) while peak torque is 90Nm (10Nm lower). Rear wheel torque has gone to 550Nm from 610Nm before. While that sounds like a significant drop, UV’s claimed acceleration times have either remained unchanged, or improved. The X-47 Venom can accelerate 0-60kph in 2.7s (same as before) and 0-100kph in 5.9s (2.2s faster than before). These claimed performance gains are likely to be down to the weight savings on the latest X-47. Charging times see marginal increases as well, with the standard portable charger (1.3kW) now taking 5 hours and 30 minutes for a 20-80 percent top-up; previously, that would have taken 5 hours. Charging times see such marginal increases across all available charger options.
On the features front, the X-47 Venom gets three new, noteworthy features: cruise control, camera-powered parking assistance and a larger 7-inch TFT display. Do bear in mind that all three are limited to the top three variants. UV continues to offer rider aids like dual-channel ABS, traction control and dynamic stability control as standard. Higher variants add four levels of traction control, radar-powered UV Hypersense assistance system and an integrated dashcam, among others.
Except for the weight, all the other dimensions stay where they were earlier, which means a 820mm seat height, 200mm ground clearance and 1385mm wheelbase. No changes to the brakes or suspension either. The now lighter X-47 Venom is stopped by the same 320mm front disc and 230mm rear disc. Suspending the motorcycle are a 41mm, preload adjustable USD fork and preload adjustable monoshock. Tyre sizes remain the same as well, 110/70R17 at the front and 150/60R17 at the rear. The motorcycle continues to utilise a steel trellis frame.
There are a total of four variants on offer, with two battery sizes. Depending on the battery size, charger type and colour choice, the price ranges from Rs 2.65 lakh to as high as Rs 4.14 lakh. Ultraviolette claims these are introductory prices and are only applicable to the first 5,000 customers; after which, they will increase by Rs 35,000 per variant. Bookings for the new X-47 Venom are already open on Ultraviolette’s website, with deliveries starting in November.
Suraj Sreekumar
Vishal Venugopal
Dinshaw Magol
