- Will it be any good as a workhorse?
- Sounds tough. Bet it’ll be jolly expensive if you break it, though
- What about the interior?
- How much will the Munro Mark 1 cost?
Munro Mark 1: front view, off-road wheel articulation, white car
Munro Mark 1: side view, muddy car, green background
Munro Mark 1: front view, off-road driving, white car
Munro Mark 1: rear view, off-road driving up a hill, white car
Munro Mark 1: front three quarter static in workshop, white car
Munro Mark 1: front view, off-road driving down a hill, white car
Munro Mark 1: front view, off-road driving down a hill, unpainted car
Munro Mark 1: front view, off-road driving, unpainted car
Munro Mark 1: front view, off-road driving showing wheel articulation, unpainted car
Munro Mark 1: dashboard and steering wheel
► New British-built 4×4 squares up to Defender► Focus on utility – massive 1000kg payload
► 375bhp electric powertrain and 168-mile range
The Scottish start-up EV manufacturer Munro Vehicles is readying itself for the launch of its first vehicle – the Munro Mark 1. It’s a no-nonsense, pure-electric off-roader that aims to fill the void left by the Land Rover Defender’s move upmarket. When it leaves its prototype phase and hits the general market, it’ll also act as a direct rival for the upcoming pure-electric Mercedes G-Wagen and the eventual Ineos Grenadier EV.
The Munro Mark 1’s powertrain looks quite unusual when compared to most modern electric cars. Rather than having an electric motor on each axle (like you’d find on a Tesla Model Y), it has a single motor under the bonnet which sends power to the wheels through a two-speed transmission and a pair of live axles – just like a traditional petrol-powered off-roader.
The motor is fed by an 80.1kWh battery pack, which Munro says is enough for a maximum range of 168 miles on the road. However, if you’re using the Mark 1 to crawl around the wilderness, the company says its battery will keep the car plugging through the mud for around 16 hours.
Charge times are quick, too. The Munro can charge from 15 to 80 percent capacity in 36 minutes when connected to a 100kW DC rapid charger. It’ll achieve the same state of charge in three hours when hooked up to a 22kW AC wallbox charger.
Will it be any good as a workhorse?
If you hadn’t already guessed from the set-square styling, the Munro Mk1 is all about utility. It has permanent four-wheel drive, a tough ladder chassis, a one-tonne payload and enough space in the back to carry a shipping pallet. It can also tow up to 3500kg, which is more than enough to haul everything from horses to heavy machinery.
Munro hasn’t confirmed all the Mark 1’s performance specs, but the initial figures suggest it’ll have a reasonable amount of poke. The motor produces 375bhp and 516lb/ft of torque – and the company says the car’s four-wheel drive system allows it to get its power down smoothly in all conditions.
Munro says the Mark 1 is very handy off-road. It has 45cm of ground clearance and can wade through metre-deep water. It also has approach and departure angles of 88 and 70 degrees respectively, which means it should be able to crest hills and rocks that would strand most off-roaders. For comparison, the Land Rover Defender 90 has approach and departure angles of 37.5 and 40 degrees respectively – and that’s only when its air suspension is in its highest position.
Sounds tough. Bet it’ll be jolly expensive if you break it, though
Not necessarily. Munro knows the Mk1 will have a hard life – and the tougher you are on your tools, the more often they’ll break. For that reason, Munro built the Mk1 from readily available parts. The suspension and braking components are are all off-the-shelf bits, while the body and chassis were sourced from the Yorkshire-based custom off-road builder Ibex Automotive.
The idea was to make the Munro Mark 1 easy and cheap to maintain. Ross Anderson, the company’s co-founder, said: ‘We decided early on that we weren’t looking to re-invent the wheel. We’ve used straightforward and readily available components to minimise the cost of production and provide owners with an accessible means to maintain and repair their own vehicle. We hope that our vehicles will last longer, making them better for the environment than most other ‘consumable’ vehicles on the market.’
The company recently gave its engineering prototype an overhaul, fitting items like an electrically assisted steering rack and some softer springs to improve ride comfort. More importantly, Munro says it was able to completely disassemble and reassemble the car on its workshop floor, which stands it in good stead for farmyard fixers and home mechanics alike.
What about the interior?
Well, it’s not finished yet – but, by the sounds of things, it’ll be a little less utilitarian than the exterior. Munro’s engineers are currently trialling some recycled wool carpets and a new thermally insulated headliner. There’s also a double-din touchscreen head unit in the centre of the dashboard and a digital gauge cluster ahead of the driver, in addition to simpler comfort items like cupholders and leather seats. Current prototypes have enough space inside for five passengers.
Naturally, the interior is geared more towards function than form. The dashboard and door panels have a practical wipe-down paint finish, the rear of the vehicle is ply-lined like a work van and all the switches are proper physical buttons that are chunky enough to operate while wearing gloves.
How much will the Munro Mark 1 cost?
Munro hasn’t yet finalised the Mark 1’s pricing. However, it has already started to take pre-orders for the car. It’s available in two specifications called Individual and Commercial, both of which can be reserved with a £500 deposit. Munro has also previously said that it’ll offer its customers a range of customisation options such as roof racks, upgraded suspension and extra bash plates.
Keyword: Scottish-built Munro Mark 1 electric off-roader available to order now