EV-olution has led to the emergence of several new startups. This includes Rivian, Lordstown, Lucid, and Bollinger to name a few. All of them either have pickup trucks, SUVs, or sedans. While they are trying to cater to every major segment, there’s one company that has decided to do something different and go off the road.
We’re talking about Vanderhall, a U.S.-based EV manufacturer that has come up with an electric off-roader called Brawley. It has been around for a decade and has three-wheeled autocycles like the Venice, Carmel, and Edison in its portfolio, but this is its first four-wheeled EV. The Brawley is expected to arrive sometime next year and will start under $35,000.
The Vanderhall Brawley Is A Pure-Bred Electric Off-Roader
The Vanderhall Brawley will be offered in multiple specs, but for now, the company has revealed some details of the top-sped Brawley GTS. It will come with a quad-motor setup – one motor at each wheel – that are individually controlled. They churn out 404 horses and 480 pound-feet of torque combined. The motor, inverter, brakes, cooling system, and the geartrain are all housed in a single unit.
The Brawley will be offered with two battery pack options – 40 kWh and 60 kWh.
Vanderhall Brawley specifications
|
Powertrain |
quad-motor setup |
|---|---|
|
Power |
404 HP |
|
Torque |
480 LB-FT |
|
Battery |
40 kWh/60 kWh |
|
Range |
200 miles |
What’s Special About The Vanderhall Brawley?
On the outside, it has an eerie resemblance with the Jeep Wrangler, thanks to the circular LED headlights and the vertical slats on the grille. The Brawley comes with a massive skid plate, but skimps out on the bumper at the front as well as the rear. The flared wheel arches and the chiseled hood further add to the off-road grace.
Inside, it isn’t tech-savvy by any means. It comes with an air-conditioner, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a Bluetooth sound system. There is a set of gauges behind the simple steering wheel that looks uber-cool. If you’re wondering how big the touchscreen here is, well, there is no touchscreen. EVs have become synonymous with big touchscreens, but Vanderhall has let it go on the Brawley. Instead, you get retro-styled flick switches on the dash. If you were looking for old-school vibes from an EV’s cabin, this will pique your interest. Apart from this, the Brawley is also offered with heated seats and ViDAR system.
Coming to its off-roading prowess, the Brawley will come with 35-inch tires wrapped around 18-inch wheels in the top trims. It will feature internal bypass shocks and have 22 inches of suspension travel range. The Brawley features a sealed cabin with a filter. It comes with a moonroof if you want to soak up the sunlight, but you can also remove a section of the roof for an open-air experience. Also, notice how the doors have a see-through section in the bottom half.
To make it practical, the off-roader can seat up to four adults. But, this is kind of a moot point since the Brawley may not even be street legal! It is barebones in terms of safety features – no airbags either – and doesn’t meet federal safety standards. The company notes that a full-face helmet should be worn when driving it.
How Much Does The Vanderhall Brawley Cost?
The Vanderhall Brawley starts at $34,950 without destination. The top-spec with options could go north of $50,000.
Final Thoughts
By the time Ford and Jeep come up with production-spec pure electric offerings of the Bronco and Wrangler, they will already have established competition. This, of course, depends on the Brawley’s street-legal status, but it wouldn’t be wrong to say it arrived before the Ford and Jeep electric off-roaders. Reservations for the Vanderhall Brawley open on July 15, 2021, and the off-roader will arrive sometime in 2022.