Tata Harrier.ev Makes History: Becomes First EV to Win Desert Quest Rally in Asia
The Tata Motors Harrier.ev is already a very impressive electric SUV. However, it has recently managed to break a few records, which have made it even cooler. Tata Motors has announced that the Harrier.ev has become the first electric vehicle in India as well as the entire Asia to not only participate in the legendary Desert Quest rally but also win it. The company has also highlighted that it has broken records in the Asia Book, Limca Book, and India Book all at once.
Harrier.ev QWD wins Desert Quest rally
Tata Motors has shared images of two Harrier.ev SUVs next to each other with their drivers and team members who participated in the Desert Quest rally. The Harrier.ev QWD was piloted by Ritesh Mamodiya and Karan Kohli, who both managed to win one of the harshest rally terrains.
For those who may not be aware, the Desert Quest is a very well-known rally that takes place over three days in the deserts of Rajasthan. This rally does not reward high-speed drivers. Rather, it rewards the vehicle and the team that can maintain exact average speeds through shifting dunes, changing gradients, and unpredictable terrains.
Tata Motors has also announced that the Harrier.ev QWD is the only electric SUV in India and Asia to enter the Desert Quest for the first time and win it. It has been mentioned that it has broken all three records from the Asia Book of Records, Limca Book of Records, and the India Book of Records.
Tata Harrier.ev QWD
As mentioned, the top-of-the-line QWD variant of the Harrier.ev entered the Desert Quest rally. This particular model is currently the only all-wheel-drive vehicle from Tata Motors. It comes with Tata's Quad Wheel Drive system, which utilizes its dual electric motor system to power all four wheels. It gets six terrain modes, namely Normal, Snow/Grass, Mud-Ruts, Sand, Rock Crawl, and Custom.
It also gets other notable features, including off-road assist and a 540-degree transparent view camera, which allows the driver to look at what is under the vehicle. The electric SUV from Tata Motors also gets hill descent control, hill hold control, electronic stability program with i-VBAC, traction control, and a rollover mitigation system.
Powering the Tata Harrier.ev QWD are two electric motors. The front motor makes 158 PS, and the rear makes 238 PS. In total, both motors make 396 PS and 594 Nm of torque. It can go from 0-100 kmph in just 6.3 seconds and also comes with a boost mode that provides instant acceleration, which is useful during overtakes.
As for the battery pack options, the Harrier.ev QWD comes with a 75 kWh unit. It provides a range of 622 km, as claimed by the company. Meanwhile, the real-world range is around 469–490 km on a single full charge. It also comes with Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Vehicle-to-Load capabilities as well.
The Harrier.ev QWD is priced at Rs 28.99 lakh. Currently, there is no other electric SUV that offers all-wheel-drive capabilities in the affordable segment. As for its rival, the Harrier.ev competes with the Mahindra XEV 9E, which is only offered with a rear-wheel-drive configuration.