Stellantis' Vauxhall brand claims to be the first mass-market carmaker to sell the battery-electric version of its new compact SUV for exactly the same price as the mild-hybrid equivalent.
Both the new Frontera Electric and Frontera Hybrid will sell in the U.K. market from a starting sticker price of £23,495 ($31,003) including taxes. At present, BEVs from legacy automakers are about 31% more expensive than their internal-combustion or hybrid siblings.
The move reflects concern among carmakers that European consumer interest in BEVs is waning in the face of that price differential and the continuing lagging roll-out of public charging infrastructure.
Vauxhall’s Frontera seeks to address this issue but leaves the automaker with the issue making a much smaller profit on the BEV model, whose margins are likely to be around 15% against about 25% expected on a gas-hybrid vehicle.
The Frontera Hybrid’s powertrain combines a 1.2L turbocharged gasoline 3-cyl. with a 28-hp electric motor integrated into the 6-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
It is available with either a 100-hp engine, developing 151 lb.-ft. (205 Nm) of torque, or a 136-hp engine developing 169 lb.-ft. (229 Nm) of torque which delivers a 0-to-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint time of 9 seconds on the way to a top speed of 118 mph (190 km/h). Both powertrains are preliminarily rated at 120 g/km of CO2.
The Frontera Electric features a 113-hp electric motor, based on the new Stellantis "Smart Car" BEV-native platform. With a provisionally claimed range of 186 miles (300 km) from the 44-kWh battery, it also claims a 0-to-62 sprint time of 12.1 seconds and a top speed of 87 mph (140 km/h).
From next year, it will also be available as a long range version capable of up to 248 miles (399 km) on a single charge.
James Taylor, managing director, Vauxhall, says: “With the launch of the New Frontera, Vauxhall has eliminated the list-price premium that often applies to electric vehicles, with both electric and petrol hybrid versions offered for an identical list price. New Frontera Electric is a significant milestone in our mission to make electric mobility accessible for everyone across the U.K.”
