Tata Motors has been developing a long-range version of the Nexon EV, which was also recently spied testing on our roads. According to sources, the long-range Tata Nexon EV is slated for a market launch by April this year. The updated Nexon EV will come with a bigger battery and a few other mechanical upgrades, although we do not expect any significant cosmetic changes on the new model.
- Tata Nexon EV to get a larger 40kWh battery pack
- Expected to get a more powerful 6.6kW AC charger
- Price announcement by April this year
Long-range Tata Nexon EV: what’s new?
As we had exclusively reported in December last year, this new version of the Nexon EV will come with a larger 40kWh battery pack. That makes it 30 percent larger than the current Nexon EV’s 30.2kWh battery pack. The Nexon EV currently has an ARAI-certified range of 312km, so the larger battery pack could be delivering a range of more than 400km on the official test cycle.
Another notable upgrade for the long-range Nexon EV could be a more powerful charger. As per leaked information on social media, the long-range Nexon EV will be available with a more powerful 6.6kW AC charger. Currently, the Nexon EV is available with a 3.3kW AC charger that takes roughly about 10 hours to top up the battery to 100 percent. A larger battery will of course increase the charging time. To combat this, Tata could be offering the 6.6kW AC charger as an option, although the current 3.3kW AC charger is also expected to be retained.
The larger battery pack will also require some modifications to be made to the Nexon EV’s floor pan, and the boot space is also believed to have been sacrificed. However, it’s a fair trade-off for greater range, given that EVs are growing in their popularity and EV buyers will require more from their vehicles than just being a city runabout.
The updated Nexon EV is also expected to get disc brakes at all four corners, as the SUV would become heavier due to the larger battery pack, thus requiring additional stopping power. Other updates could include new, selectable regen modes that alters the intensity of regenerative braking, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and a new design for the alloy wheels. We, however, do not expect any other significant cosmetic exterior or interior update.
Long-range Tata Nexon EV to be sold alongside current model
The long-range version of the Nexon EV is expected to be priced at a premium of Rs 3 lakh-4 lakh over the current model. However, Tata Motors will continue to offer the current model alongside the long-range version, to maintain different price positioning and suit specific needs of the buyer.
The biggest USP of the current Nexon EV has obviously been its well-judged price-to-range ratio, and it has found a sweet spot among early adopters of electric vehicles. It’s considerably more affordable than other electric SUVs in the market and greatly fulfils the needs for a city runabout. The long-range version, meanwhile, will be more expensive but will broaden its appeal and usability, bringing in a new set of buyers.
Long-range Tata Nexon EV: expected price and rivals
The long-range Nexon EV is expected to be priced around Rs 17 lakh-18 lakh (ex-showroom). This means it will still maintain a price advantage over rivals such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and MG ZS EV, which are brought to India via imported CKD (completely knocked down) kits.
That said, the MG ZS EV itself is due an update this month, which will bring it a larger battery. It should thus once again be able to put some distance between itself and the updated Nexon EV. And while Hyundai will also be launching the Kona Electric facelift in India this year, it remains to be seen if it comes with a larger battery or not. If not, the Kona Electric and updated Nexon EV will have very comparable specs, but the Nexon EV would have an edge in its pricing.
Do you think the long-range Nexon EV will be suitable for outstation highway drives? Let us know in the comments below.
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