TOGG, Turkey’s Automobile Initiative Group, has announced that it will be working with UK-based engineering consultancy Horiba Mira to develop its pioneering electric SUV.
The battery electric SUV, which was unveiled last year, is Turkey’s first home-bred vehicle and according to the company, it represents the culmination of Turkey’s progress in industrial technology.
Horiba Mira will be responsible for the development of the vehicle’s dynamics and durability chassis attributes with the TOGG designers’ and engineers’ participation.
The goal of the project is to ensure that the chassis performance positions the vehicle competitively in the premium European SUV segment, offering a sporty feeling and responsive ride with precise handling.
Horiba Mira will also be supporting the platform’s Functional Safety requirements plus initial packages of work to support the validation of the first prototype vehicles. Most notably these include assistance in the testing programme for durability, delivered from Horiba Mira’s UK-based proving ground, and vehicle dynamics leadership for the chassis mule phase of the programme.
The UK-based engineering consultancy will help the Turkish brand navigate the complicated initial phases of developing an electric vehicle, according to Graeme Stewart, Chief Technical Officer at Horiba Mira
“For automotive start-ups and established OEMs, there are numerous challenges associated with developing an electric vehicle – from new propulsion technology to advanced assistance systems,” he said. “We will leverage our long history of supporting our global customers develop innovative and class-leading vehicles to deliver a great solution for TOGG.”
The battery electric SUV is one of two electric vehicles announced by the automaker, with a C-Sedan concept also announced. Production of the C-SUV is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022.