Vanderhall off-road electric buggy teased

When we were kids, it looked as if the future was going to be full of cool stuff. Jetpacks, flying cars, invisibility cloaks, hover boards, human teleporters …you know the stuff.

While we’re still waiting, the rise of electric vehicles is doing its best to fill the vacuum with an ever-increasing number of desirable grown-up toys.

Latest tease? Vanderhall’s all-electric Navarro off-road buggy, due in 2022.

Never heard of them? Vanderhall’s the mob behind hand-made road-going three-wheeled roadsters – most recognisably its two-seater Venice – powered by General Motors petrol drivetrains. 

An electric version of the Venice called Edison 2 has also been available since 2018 (from US$34,950) using twin 52kW electric motors (one driving each front wheel) with a 28kWh battery pack. On offer is 104kW and 315Nm giving a 0-100km/h time in under five seconds, while range is quoted at around 320 kilometres. Ample, you’d agree.

Built in Utah, USA, they’re the American equivalent of the Morgan 3-Wheeler with a modern twist. And, if you check out Vanderhall’s Instagram feed, you’ll get all envious as you see hyper-attractive people in these three-wheelers living a far cooler life than you and I.

Vanderhall has now released a new teaser video of its first four-wheel creation. We know it’s called the Navarro and its basic shape – spoiler alert, it’s very fun looking – and Vanderhall promises it will “revolutionise and create a new category of adventure vehicle.”

Set to be released as part of the 2022 Vanderhall model line, there are no details on what electric setup will be offered, or which will be the driven wheels. Vanderhall’s three-wheelers have power going through the fronts, but power to the Navarro’s rear treads – or all wheels – would make more sense.

If an Edison 2’s 52kW motor was put at each corner, that would make one hell of an off-road crowd-pleaser. Finke Desert Race? Yes please, and we’ll worry about battery charging options another time.

The teaser pictures and video shows the Navarro to have mighty off-road tyres, jacked-up suspension, a removable hard top roof, very little in the way of doors and either luggage space or (tiny, perilous) seat space in the back beneath sports bars. 

Will it be road legal? Not without better enclosing the wheels and tyres, but if it’s solely to be a weekend toy for jumping sand dunes, so be it. Although it’d be a shame to miss out on open-mouthed stares from other road users in Sydney rush hour.