MWM Spartan (electric car)

2021: Start selling from €39,900

In early August 2021, sales of the Spartan electric SUV began, which is a modified version of the Hunter UAZ. The price of the novelty in the Czech Republic starts at 39,900 euros (the final price depends on the selected battery, body color and optional equipment). The car is certified for use on the roads of the European Union and Great Britain.

The Czech company MW Motors, taking as the basis the Hunter UAZ, replaced the standard ZMZ gasoline engine with an electric motor producing a maximum 120 kW (163 hp) and 600 Nm. It is powered by a 55-90 kVt⋅ch lithium-ion battery pack. Depending on the selected battery option, the range of the SUV with a full charge will be from 250 to 400 km, the manufacturer says.

Electric car MWM Spartan

A five-seater electric car with a 4 x 4 drive has a wheelbase of 2380 mm and a ground clearance of 210 mm. The maximum payload when driving on roads is 550 kg. On off-road, it drops to 336 kg. The depth of the covered ford is 500 mm, and the towing capacity is 2500 kg. The maximum speed is limited to 130 km/h.

Externally, Spartan differs from Hunter only by a radiator grille, and from the inside by digital devices located in the center of the front panel. For an additional fee, Spartan offers anti-corrosion body processing (490 euros), rear differential locking (890 euros), additional headlights (149 euros). You can also buy a tire pressure control system, a trunk on the roof with a staircase, etc.

Start of sales of Spartan electric SUV

According to information on the manufacturer's website, by August 4, 2021, when ordering a Spartan car, its delivery to the buyer is about 6 months. The electric version of the SUV is about 20 thousand euros more expensive than the usual one (with an internal combustion engine).^[1]

2020: MWM Spartan Announcement

In early May 2020, the Czech automaker MW Motors announced the sale of an electric SUV created on the basis of the Russian UAZ Hunter. The cost of the novelty will be 40 thousand euros (about 3.3 million rubles at the exchange rate on May 4), while in Russia the usual Hunter costs from 737 thousand rubles, and Patriot - from 820 thousand rubles.

The electric car will be sold in Europe under the name MWM Spartan and in the version only with a 56 kilowatt-hour battery pack. However, initially the manufacturer planned to release several modifications differing in batteries, including an option with 90 kilowatt hours.

Sales of electric SUV based on UAZ Hunter begin in Europe

As MW Motors CEO Maurice Ward explained, "long-range" versions of the SUV are not interested in customers, and the range of an electric car with a 56 kilowatt-hour battery - about 200 kilometers  -  completely satisfies consumers.

The MWM Spartan uses  a synchronous AC engine, which is very unusual for  an electric car, but  the UAZ manual transmission , as well as the downshift  and all-wheel drive of the donor car are preserved. Although, given the torque of the electric motor, it seems that this is unnecessary.

An SUV  with an electric motor will be more powerful than with  a standard gasoline engine with a displacement of 2.7 liters (135 hp). The driving force of the environmentally friendly version will be an electric motor with a capacity of 120 kW/160 hp, developing 600  N.m  of torque.

The target audience of MWM Spartan in the company is seen in European farmers, mining companies and firms associated with the forest industry, which need simple and resilient machines with zero exhaust and good off-road capabilities.

The first market for the electrified UAZ Hunter has been chosen, Great Britain where sales will start in 2020, the continental Europe SUV will reach in 2021.^[2]

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