News

Vauxhall has added a new Extended Range version of its new Frontera Electric crossover, offering up to 253 miles per charge for less than £28,000.

The longer-legged version of Vauxhall's Ford Puma Gen-E rival switches the standard 44kWh battery for a 54kWh pack that adds up to 67 miles between charges on the WLTP test cycle. 

It uses the same 111bhp, 192lb ft front-mounted motor as the 44kWh car, giving a 0-62mph time of 13sec and a top speed of 88mph.

Peak charging speed is put at 100kW, which Vauxhall says will give a 20-80% charge in 28 minutes.

Available to order now from £27,495, the 54kWh Frontera has been priced well under the £37,000 threshold for the UK government's new Electric Car Grant (ECG).

It hasn't yet confirmed whether any Vauxhall models will be eligible for the grant, but the technically identical Citroën e-C3 Aircross, which is built alongside the Frontera in Slovakia, was among the first models to be added to the scheme.

It was deemed eligible for the lesser grant of £1500, making it likely that the Frontera Electric will be likewise.

The Frontera is now available with a choice of two electric powertrains – priced from £23,995 – or as a petrol-engined hybrid that produces 99bhp (for £24,225) or or 134bhp (for £28,165). 

UK deliveries of the Frontera Electric had been scheduled to begin in the spring but have yet to commence. Autocar understands the car will arrive later than planned due to delays in the production ramp-up.