Using the good-old Russian “Jeep” UAZ Hunter as a base, Czech company MW Motors is offering the fully electric Spartan, following the trend of converting old cars into BEVs. The electromod was announced in early 2020, but the pandemic delayed the market launch for over a year. For those who are not familiar with Russian automotive history, the origins of the UAZ Hunter date back to 1971 when the UAZ-469 military vehicle was launched. Since then, it has sold more than two million units in 80 countries, promoting its durability and off-road capabilities.
The MWM Spartan retains most of the original parts of the UAZ, minus the engine. Design-wise, it can be distinguished by the new fully-covered grille with Jeep-style vertical slots (instead of horizontal) and the digital instrument cluster on the dashboard.
Under the bonnet, there is a brand new electric motor producing 161 hp and 600 Nm of torque. This might not sound like much but it is an improvement over the original naturally aspirated 2.7-liter engine that put out 126 hp and 210 Nm of torque. Despite the electric conversion, the vehicle retains the 5-speed manual gearbox and the top speed of 130 km/h.
The lithium-ion battery is protected in a waterproof casing and has a capacity of 62.16 kWh, providing a range of 150 km. For longer journeys, there is an optional 90 kWh battery. Due to the electric powertrain and battery, the gross weight of the off-roader has been increased to 1,966 kg.
The MWM Spartan is already on sale priced at € 39,900 (US$ 47,394), in both left- and right-hand-drive configurations. While this is not cheap for a spartan off-roader considering you have to pay extra for things like the hardtop, the anti-corrosion treatment, and the rear differential lock, it is still a lot cheaper from similar conversions of Defenders, Broncos, G-Wagens, or Jeeps. For more traditional ICE-loving people, MWM is offering a more conventional version of the Spartan with a gasoline engine, priced from € 19,900 (US$ 23,642).
