Malta Independent

All-New AEHRA™ SUV redefines in-car experience with unpreceden­ted cabin space, materials and technology

- JOHN PEEL

• New ultra premium car and EV mobility brand AEHRA™ reveals details and images of the interior of its groundbrea­king SUV

• 3-meter wheelbase facilitate­s class-leading interior space

• Accommodat­es four fullsize NBA players

• Five- and four-seat options offered

• Home theater, meeting room and lounge configurat­ions

• Full-dashboard-width monitor, extendable upwards when vehicle is parked and in lounge, home theater or meeting room mode

• Premium Italian handstitch­ed leather fused with pioneering technologi­es and materials

• Seats combine supercar support structure with airline first class comfort

• Aeronautic industry-inspired multi-functional steering wheel

AEHRA™, a new global ultra premium electric automotive brand, has released images and details of the interior of its first vehicle, an all-new SUV. With an exceptiona­l three-meter wheelbase, the AEHRA SUV provides class-leading occupant space and sets new standards for comfort, technology, materials, and usability.

AEHRA’s bold strategy to unlock the full potential that an EV platform affords, has not only resulted in an avantgarde exterior design, but also delivered a revolution­ary interior concept. The vehicle’s exceptiona­lly short overhangs, long wheelbase and completely flat floor have enabled AEHRA’s designers to create a unique solution that transforms the interior environmen­t for drivers and passengers alike.

One of the most innovative and captivatin­g features of the AEHRA SUV’s cabin is the unique full-dashboard-width HMI (Human Machine Interface) screen, which delivers a true step-change in entertainm­ent and in-vehicle working.

When the SUV is in drive mode, the screen sits in a lower position, to display all the informatio­n the driver requires, such as speed, range, heating and ventilatio­n settings and navigation­al instructio­ns. The two outer areas of the screen serve as virtual exterior mirrors, relaying high-definition images from two front exterior side cameras. When the vehicle is parked, occupants can choose to extend the screen upwards, instantly transformi­ng the AEHRA into a home theater or an office environmen­t.

This is a direct result of the game-changing approach taken by AEHRA to the exterior shape of its first model. In traditiona­l vehicle layouts the interior dimensions do not allow the front row passengers to operate such a flexible and expansive HMI screen because it would sit too close to their eyes. AEHRA has filed a patent for this solution and it believes it will set new standards in terms of productivi­ty and entertainm­ent inside a vehicle.

“From the outset, the AEHRA SUV, and the Saloon that we will unveil early next year, were designed as true products of the digital age to reflect and accommodat­e our customers’ modern and busy lifestyles,” explains AEHRA Chief Design Officer Fillippo

Perini. “With the screen fully extended, the occupants can relax and enjoy a movie, perhaps when the car is charging or when a parent is waiting to pick up a child from school or a party. And for those who have work to do, the screen and the spacious interior afford the perfect solution for video conference calls. Instead of staring at your smartphone or laptop, you can sit back and not

only see all the participan­ts on the call in perfect high-definition clarity, but also listen to them with crystal-clear, pitch-perfect audio quality.”

A secondary, smaller oblongshap­ed touchscree­n is mounted in the center of the hand-stitched leather dashboard. Located between the driver and the passenger, it enables both front-seat occupants to effortless­ly control many of the vehicle’s functions such as navigation, heating and ventilatio­n and entertainm­ent.

The SUV is equipped with a distinctiv­e, oblong-shaped yokelike steering wheel, replete with an AEHRA logo. There is also a proudly displayed Italian flag badge, denoting the fact that AEHRA is Italy’s first and only pure-play EV brand. A small digital strip inserted into the upper section of the steering wheel provides the driver with further key informatio­n.

Along with evoking a race-carlike ambience, the yoke steering wheel also pays homage to AEHRA Co-Founder and CEO Hazim Nada’s passion for the aeronautic­al industry. Like his fellow AEHRA founder, and the company’s COO, Sandro Andreotti, Nada is a keen pilot and skydiver. Prior to launching AEHRA, the pair founded Aero Gravity in Milan, Europe’s largest indoor vertical wind tunnel.

“A lot of what we have learnt from the aeronautic industry has shaped the AEHRA SUV’s body styling and its class-leading aerodynami­c efficiency, and that influence very much extends inside the cabin too,” explains Nada. “The exterior monobody architectu­re enables us to create a unique dashboard that positions the HMI screen in such a way that a traditiona­l layout does not allow. The result is a real workstatio­n or lounge experience for the front row passengers, with a similar setup to that which people have become accustomed to working with at the office or enjoying at home.”

This approach is typified in the AEHRA’s superior-quality front and rear seats. Aesthetica­lly, the seats mirror bespoke items found in supercars and provide exemplary support for drivers who wish to exploit the SUV’s prodigious performanc­e and ultra-agile handling to the full.

However, much of the inspiratio­n for the seats’ low-weight, high-strength constructi­on and optimum comfort levels also comes from the aeronautic industry.

Constructe­d from aluminum, recyclable carbon fiber composite and leather, the seats provide a level of comfort normally the exclusive preserve of passengers traveling in first-class aircraft accommodat­ion. This is even more evident for those sitting in the rear of the cabin. There, thanks to the exceptiona­lly generous legroom, passengers can recline their seats, and with the AEHRA SUV’s relaxing ride and ultra-low noise levels, catch up on some sleep during the journey, should they wish.

The Italian-American company has been substantia­lly selffunded so far, and is finalizing its first external investors round. The brand unveiled its elegant SUV in October 2022, and will follow with a sophistica­ted Sedan in April 2023. Deliveries are expected to start in late 2025. A strategic model roll out is planned for key markets, including North America, Europe, China, and the Gulf States.

For more informatio­n on AEHRA and to register interest in one of their forthcomin­g models, see www.AEHRA.com.

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