Aurus Merlon Electric Motorcycle

2024: Aurus Electric Motorbike introduced to ride in winter

In October 2024, FSUE NAMI presented a winter version of the Aurus Merlon electric motorcycle, equipped with a closed side trailer. The new modification is designed specifically for use in motorcades of dignitaries during the cold season, which confirms the possibility of operating this vehicle in winter.

According to Motor, the main difference between the winter version of Aurus Merlon and the standard version is the presence of a streamlined side trailer with a cover. An additional battery is located inside the trailer, which not only increases the range of the electric motorcycle, but also provides better weighing.

Development of Aurus Merlon took five years. The electric motorcycle is equipped with a 190 horsepower engine with a torque of 350 Nm. It is capable of accelerating from place to 100 kilometers per hour in 3.7 seconds, and its maximum speed reaches 200 kilometers per hour. The range of the standard version is up to 200 kilometers.

NAMI representatives note that even the basic modification of Merlon is adapted to work in extreme temperature conditions. The electric motorcycle is able to function at temperatures up to -25 degrees Celsius, as well as withstand 40-degree heat.

The winter version of Merlon with an additional battery in the side trailer allows you to further increase the range in the cold season, - said the representative of NAMI.

The civilian version of the Aurus Merlon is expected to go on sale in 2025. The preliminary cost of the electric motorcycle was estimated in the range from ₽10 million to ₽12 million, but these figures may change by the time the model enters the market.

Despite the fact that the winter modification of Aurus Merlon is intended for use in official motorcades, the technologies used in its creation can also be used in civilian models of electric vehicles adapted for operation in harsh winter conditions.^[1]

2023: Aurus names Merlon cost

In mid-September 2023, Aurus named the approximate cost of the Aurus Merlon electric motorcycle - 10-12 million rubles. As a price guide, the company cited the American manufacturer of exclusive motorcycles of the top level Curtiss, whose products cost customers, including many stars and famous personalities, in the amount of 14-15 million rubles.

As the representative of Aurus told Gazeta.Ru, there is no final commercial plan for the development of the Merlon project by mid-September 2023. The motorcycles are scheduled to be used as an honorary escort at the presidential inauguration ceremony in 2023. By this time, a minimum of 8 motorcycles are planned for the Special Purpose Garage.

Aurus Merlon

As for Merlon for open sale, by September 2023 Aurus does not yet know what it will be - even the class of the motorcycle has not yet been determined. They want to make the final decision after studying the potential demand, which, given the high cost of Merlon, may turn out to be quite modest. At the same time, if a decision on a free sale is nevertheless made, such an electric bike will retain the "state" Merlon power plant - this is a 190-horsepower engine with a rear wheel drive and a 21-kilowatt battery.

According to Expert magazine columnist Alexander Astapov, the Aurus electric motorcycle, due to its large mass and high center of gravity, is not suitable as a vehicle that is rode for pleasure, and more compact and lightweight models are usually used as an everyday motorcycle for driving around the city. Taking into account the high price, sales of Merlon to private customers will be limited to units that will replenish museums and collections, he believes.

As the head of the Aurus Merlon project Yevgeny Torzhenov said earlier, the company does not expect much excitement and demand in the mass segment at Aurus Merlon for a number of objective reasons. First of all, this is a high cost, less range compared to gasoline analogues, a fairly specific design in the style of Aurus cars, etc.^[2]

2022: Aurus electric motorcycle specifications revealed

In early July 2022, a public presentation of the Aurus Merlon electric motorcycle, developed by the NAMI Research Automobile and Motor Institute, took place. The manufacturer disclosed the characteristics of the product.

Aurus Merlon received a 140 kW engine that is capable of accelerating a motorcycle to 200 km per hour. From 0 to 100 km/h, it accelerates in 3.7 s. The vehicle has a range of about 200 km. It can be used at negative temperatures up to minus 25 degrees. The motorcycle will be used to accompany motorcades of the first persons of the countries and diplomatic missions. Aurus Merlon is named after a prong on the Kremlin wall.

An electric motorcycle under the Aurus brand is presented. It can ride at -25 ° C

Although the main mission of Aurus Merlon is to accompany motorcades of dignitaries, the line of electric motorcycles will have different versions of heavy motorcycles for other tasks, including for units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and a civilian version, which will go on sale. Last year, a side trailer for the Merlon was patented with an aerodynamic cover and a horizontal lantern almost full width.

According to the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade RFDenis Manturov, the start of mass production of Merlon electric motorcycles by the Russian company Aurus is scheduled for 2024. He noted that he had already managed to ride such an electric motorcycle and was pleased with the new product.

The Merlon prototype was created by the Kalashnikov concern, taking into account the requirements of the specialists of the Special Purpose Garage of the FSO of Russia.

The motorcycle has a completed exterior design. Key technological, layout and ergonomic solutions have been recorded, an experimental batch of prototypes is undergoing a full cycle of tests, the NAMI Research Automobile and Motor Institute said.[3]

2021: Aurus Electric Motorcycle Announcement

On March 11, 2021, the presentation of an electric motorcycle under the Aurus brand took place. The Ministry of Industry and Trade spoke about this new product on its Instagram page.

The Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov noted that the specialists of FSUE NAMI carried out a set of research and development work, the result of which was the creation of a special-purpose electric motorcycle.

The motorcycle was created taking into account the requirements of the specialists of the Special Purpose Garage of the FSO of Russia and does not just meet their needs regarding the functional qualities imposed on motorcycles of this class - NAMI created a really spectacular motorcycle, he said.

Aurus Electric Motorbike

The electric power system of the developed motorcycle has a peak power of 140 kW. The vehicle is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h to 3.7 seconds. The motorcycle will be made in a style that provides full aesthetic integration into the AurusRussia brand line, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said without specifying other technical characteristics of the novelty.

The mass production of the electric motorcycle may begin in 2022-2023, as Denis Manturov reported in early February 2021.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade noted that the "high consumer qualities" of the platform developed by FSUE NAMI open up ample opportunities for creating competitive models of motorcycles on its basis and for free sale.

According to the ministry, the idea of ​ ​ replacing foreign-made escort motorcycles with domestic samples has been in the air since the very beginning of the development of the Unified Modular Platform project and, after the successes gained during the development and commissioning of the Aurus family of cars, it was decided to start work on the motorcycle direction. Special versions of heavy-class motorcycles are suitable for a number of tasks of the departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Industry and Trade emphasized.^[4]

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