If the Rivian R1S isn’t your cup of tea and Mercedes EQG has been waiting too long, maybe this brick-shaped electric off-roader has tickled your fancy? Founded in 2019, Scotland-based Munro Vehicles introduced the unflattering “Mk_1” which was touted as “the world’s most capable all-electric 4×4”. If the boxy design looks familiar, you’re not alone as it reminds us of the Bollinger B1, another EV built to tackle rough terrain.
The go-anywhere electric engine has been developed with two powertrain options, one providing 295 horsepower (220 kilowatts) and the other 375 hp (280 kW). Customers can choose between a 61-kWh battery or the larger 82-kWh package, with a maximum range of up to 190 miles (306 kilometers). Munro says the Mk_1 can tackle off-road trails for 16 hours on a single charge.
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It supports 100-kW DC charging, in which case owners can charge the battery from 15 to 80 percent in 36 minutes. If the battery is fed from a 22-kW AC source, it will take about three hours to go from 15 to 100 percent. After eight years of use and 100,000 miles (nearly 161,000 kilometers), the battery should still retain about 80 percent of its original energy capacity.
Munro mentions 700 Newton meters (516 pound-feet) of instant torque available up to 50 mph (80 km/h) and gives the Mk_1 a maximum payload of 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds) along with a towing capacity of 3,500 kg (7,716 pounds). Use the more powerful “Performance” version and it will reach 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 4.9 seconds. Because the vehicle was engineered to prioritize torque, its top speed was only 80 mph (129 km/h).
With a body-on-frame chassis, standard central locking differential, optional front and rear locking differentials and a two-speed transfer case, the Mk_1 is a true off-roader. It has a generous ground clearance of 480 millimeters (19 inches) and can wade in water up to 800 mm (31.5 in) deep. Munro mentions approach and departure angles of 84 degrees and 51 degrees and a ramp breakover angle of 148 degrees.
It uses a lighter and more compact axial flux electric motor mounted between the two front seat passengers to provide a go-anywhere EV with a nearly ideal 50:50 weight distribution. The Mk_1 offers a 5 mm thick galvanized steel ladder chassis and has enough space to accommodate Euro pallets in the load area.
Munro is asking £49,995 (without VAT) for a Utility model in five-door guise with five seats and a 130-inch wheelbase. That worked out to be around $61,000 or €58,200 at the current exchange rate. The Mk_1 is handcrafted and will be delivered to the first customer in 2023.
