Headquartered out of the industrial town of Smethwick, Overland-E is a fledgling British automotive firm that got its start by crafting off-road dune buggies that utilize the chassis and running gear of a Volkswagen Beetle — a model range the company calls the Mk1. And despite only having been founded approximately a year ago in March of 2020, the boutique manufacturer has now unveiled a second, markedly more advanced model known as the Overland-E Gen2.
While Overland-E’s inaugural model was a more traditional sandrail-style vehicle, the Gen2 takes things in a decidedly sleeker and more unique direction, boasting a fully-electric powertrain and looking like a cross between a Tesla Roadster, Polaris Slingshot, and Caterham Seven built atop a lifted off-road suspension package. While thus far specs are fairly scant, we do know that the Gen2 will be constructed around a state-of-the-art space frame and will boast a range of at least 750 miles. What’s more, the Gen2 will also pack a payload capacity of over 3,300lbs — a capability that points to what we expect to be some very impressive torque and power figures.
Just like with the company’s Mk1 model, the Gen2 is being offered in “Explorer” and “Urban” variants, with the former representing the go-anywhere off-road version and the latter being the second-generation model’s road-going variant. Built for off-road adventure, the Explorer-spec sees the thoroughly modern and plush cabin of the two-seater roadster capped off with an integrated roof storage system and a set of roof-mounted auxiliary lights. The Explorer also sports a winch, side-mounted jerry cans, and a bed with a removable cover that’s big enough to accommodate a trio of full-size spares. The Urban version, on the other hand, is intended for on-road use and looks identical to the Explorer variants save for its comparative lack of off-road upgrades and equipment. Both Gen2 models also benefit from Overland-E’s strategic partnerships with Expeds, Pario Ventures, and SPARCO.
While pricing and a full spec sheet have yet to be revealed, Overland-E has announced that the Gen2 is scheduled to enter production in the summer of 2023 and will be available in the U.S. and UK markets. And, based on the company’s current offerings, we anticipate the Gen2 eventually being offered with a wide range of customizable and configurable options.
