Pravaig, an automotive startup from India, has revealed a premium electric SUV which is called Defy. The model shown in renderings and revealed in pre-production prototype form, is scheduled to enter production in the second quarter of 2023 priced from Rs 39.5 lakh (US$ 48,440) in India. We had never heard of Pravaig before, but the company was founded back in 2011. As reported by the Economic Times, Pravaig’s CEO, Siddhartha Bagri said that they have invested US$ 18 million for the development of the SUV, and will invest an extra US$ 30 million in the next five months prior to its market launch.
Starting with the specs, the Pravaig Defy
sits on an in-house developed EV-dedicated architecture featuring dual electric
motors that produce a combined 402 hp and 620 Nm of torque. The AWD system will allow for a claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h. The 90.9 kWh
battery is good for a driving range of more than 500 km, and will
be able to charge from 0-80% in 30 minutes using an ultra-fast charger.
Browsing through Pravaig’s official website we could only find renderings of
the rear end and the interior of the SUV, but no photos of the front. However,
footage from the launch event in India shows a real-life model on display,
revealing the entirety of its exterior design. The 4.96 m long
prototype appears to be rough around the edges with flat glass surfaces and an
angular roofline. It certainly doesn’t look like a competitor to premium SUVs
from established automakers, however, it is not the final product so Pravaig
may make some changes before the market launch.
The front styling is quite plain, with the
headlights hidden under a dark panel and a total absence of a grille or bumper
intakes. The profile, greenhouse, and tail are clearly inspired by the Range
Rover Velar, although the Indian model is not as appealing as the British SUV.
The Defy also gets suicide doors, full-width LED taillights, and an inclined
rear windshield that is covered by an angular spoiler. The company announced a
ground clearance of 234 mm, although the prototype appears to sit
closer to the ground. As reported by Autocar India, the Pravaig Defy has a drag
coefficient of 0.33 cd, while optional “aero covers” will improve the electric
range on the highway by further reducing drag.
The interior looks more premium than the
exterior. Depending on the configuration it comes with four or five seats that
can be cooled. Pravaig used vegan leather and sustainable fabrics for the
upholstery, following the latest trend. The dashboard is dominated by a
15.6-inch touchscreen for the infotainment, mated to a premium audio system by
French company Devialet. Other features include a 10-inch digital instrument
cluster, two additional screens for the rear passengers, a panoramic glass
roof, wireless charging, 5G connectivity, and OTA compatibility. Notably, the
SUV doesn’t come with any ADAS features, as even the basic automatic emergency
braking will be added through an update in the future.
Pravaig wants to deliver the first
examples of the Defy in India by April 2023. The Rs 39.5 lakh (US$ 48,440) price
tag makes the Pravaig Defy around Rs 10 lakh (US$ 12k) cheaper than the smaller-sized
entry-level Mercedes-Benz EQA and BMW iX1 fully electric premium compact SUVs.
