Indian carmaker Tata Motors has updated its battery powered Nexon EV. The crossover has been in production for a couple of years and enjoyed high popularity among customers despite the country’s lack of EV charging infrastructure.
Most crucially, the upgrade brings the battery size to 40.5 kilowatt-hours, a drastic improvement over the 30.2 kWh from before. The battery unit still lies concealed under the floor, which is now slightly thicker and reduces ground clearance by a further 10 mm (0.4”). The car itself also weighs around 100 kilograms (220 pounds) more than before. On the upside, it now runs 437 km (271 miles) on a single charge, up from 312 km (194 miles).
The electric motor enjoys an overhaul, too, which sees it churn out 143 PS (141 hp / 105 kW) and 250 Nm (183 lb-ft) of torque. The old motor made 129 PS (127 hp / 95 kW) and 245 Nm (180 lb-ft).
As a result, the car needs nine seconds flat to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from standstill, down from 9.9 seconds. Drivers can adjust regenerative brake settings as they wish or automatically depending on the current driving conditions.
Size-wise, the model is subcompact and comes in at just under four meters (13.1 feet) long in order to be eligible for local tax benefits. The engineering crew managed to devise a powertrain layout compact enough to avoid raising the trunk level. This is especially important because the trunk volume of the Tata Nexon EV is only 350 liters (12.35 cubic feet).
The ICE-powered variant of the Nexon has been in production for five years now, and is India’s single best-selling off-roader. Its electric cousin has sold over 13,000 units over two years so far. It should be noted that the pre-facelift SUV will continue to be available alongside the new version for the time being.