These days, it seems like every automaker is rushing to create an electric SUV. Aehra, with its self-titled SUV, is hoping to join the premium VIP area of the party. The newcomer won’t be available until 2025, and we anticipate that it will start at about £157,000.
Aehra has struck a partnership agreement with Austrian battery manufacturer Miba to jointly create a custom battery for the SUV and saloon model of the company. The two businesses will be able to optimize body shape, range, efficiency, and weight savings, according to Aehra.
The Aehra brand, which is pronounced “era,” was only established in 2022, so the turnaround time for its debut vehicle was amazing. The Milan-based company claims that its SUV “rewrites the automotive design rulebook” and draws design cues from supercars and motorcycles.
Aehra SUV – Design & Looks
The Aehra’s proportions are extremely svelte, with ultra-slim overhangs and a windscreen that crosses the front axle. The surface is smooth, and there are no protruding door handles or small virtual door mirrors that might reduce the friction on the SUV.
The use of narrow lighting strips for the headlights and fog lights distinguishes the front end. Huge air vents behind the front wheels and corresponding components on the bonnet will help direct air away from the wheel arch. Active aerodynamic components have also been incorporated into the Aehra’s design.
The invention of Aehra is clearly a coupe-SUV due to the sloping roofline, and the back features yet another slim LED lighting setup. According to the company, its SUV would feature “leading-edge battery platform technology, targeting a range of at least 800km (497 miles) and awe-inspiring performance”.
Aehra SUV – Battery Range & Performance
Aehra earlier stated that it was searching for a battery with a 120kWh capacity in the SUV, making it one of the largest batteries currently available in a production electric vehicle. It will provide up to 805bhp with three electric motors—one at the front axle and two at the back. Despite the massive battery, charging could be among the fastest in the EV industry thanks to plans for a 350kW recharge at a market-leading 925V voltage.
An forthcoming saloon model will likewise use the same platform and battery and have the same long three-meter wheelbase. According to Aehra, the SUV’s monocoque body, which was built with carbon fibre, will provide “exceptional agility and driving pleasure”. The SUV is intended to have a kerbweight under two tonnes. The vehicle’s drag coefficient is under 0.21, despite its size. To put that into perspective, the Mercedes EQS sedan, which has a drag coefficient of 0.20, is the longest range EV currently for sale.
Sustainability is a major factor, according to Aehra, and the SUV and upcoming sedan’s structural components can be recycled up to five times, with non-structural components having the potential to be utilised even more. In order to keep prices down, 70% of the components between the two cars are also shared.
Once production is up and running, Aehra hopes to make 20,000 to 25,000 units of each automobile. The sedan, which will be unveiled in early 2023 and serve as a more affordable alternative, should have an even longer range because it sits lower than the SUV. They can be purchased at the’salons’ where Aehras will sell their products or online.
Aehra Sedan – Interior & Comfort
The Aera’s cockpit is equipped with four top-hinged doors, an oblong steering wheel, and a full-width dashboard display. The main contact points include hand-stitched leather, aluminium, and carbon fibre trim, while the dashboard, door panels, and footwells all have customizable ambient lighting. The Aehra has enough for five tall persons and is available in both four and five seat configurations. It has a three metre long wheelbase. During routine driving, a huge screen that spans the base of the windscreen provides passengers with information on speed, navigation, and the weather, and the front and back seats can be reclined.
The display panel, however, may rise upward when the vehicle is parked to create a sizable monitor for watching material or conducting conference calls. The main infotainment features of the Aera are controlled via a smaller central touchscreen, while digital mirror screens are located on either side of the dashboard. The saloon should incorporate the same technology that is seen in the SUV.