Ampere Magnus Pro Electric Scooter Review: A Flagship Model For The Masses!

However, Ampere Vehicles decided to go ahead and introduced their latest flagship electric scooter, the Magnus Pro in the Indian market in early June 2020. The launch took place online through a virtual conference — something which has become a trend among vehicle manufacturers these days.

The Ampere Magnus Pro electric scooter, being a premium flagship model claims to offer strong performance, extended range and a host of other features and equipment. We rode the Ampere Magnus Pro e-scooter on the streets of Bangalore and put it through its paces.

So, does the e-scooter have what it takes to compete against the likes of other ‘flagship' models on offer in India? Let's find out!

Design & Style

The Ampere Magnus Pro electric scooter features a conventional design and proportions and can be easily mistaken for a standard IC-engine powered model. That being said, the Magnus Pro does look good and offers a host of elements, chrome finishes and highlights which add to its stylish appeal.

Starting from the front, the new Magnus Pro electric scooter comes with a large LED headlamp unit on the front cowl, with a thick chrome strip on the top. Moving further down, the front apron on the Magnus Pro comes with a thick V-shaped chrome element, which integrates with the large pair of turn indicators.

Moving to the side profile, the Ampere Magnus Pro offers simplistic styling with minimalistic design elements. The side body panel features the ‘Magnus Pro' badging on the side and tapers off towards the rear. The sides of the front apron also feature ‘electric' stickering, reiterating its eco-friendly status.

The Magnus Pro comes with a single-piece seat. The wide seat combined with the long footboard offers an extremely comfortable sitting posture, for both the rider and pillion. The seats also offer a good amount of cushioning, which keeps both rider and passengers seated comfortably, even on slightly longer journeys.

Unlike other electric scooters, the batteries on the Magnus Pro are positioned with the under-seat storage space. The under-seat storage itself is decently sized (does not fit a full-face helmet) and comes with an LED light, which is switched on at all times.

The pillion also gets large grab-rails at the rear, which is mainly kept simple with just the tail lamp and the turn indicators on its either sides.

Powertrain, Performance & Handling

The Ampere Magnus Pro electric scooter comes powered by a 60V 30Ah lithium-ion battery pack, paired with a 1.2kW electric motor. The Magnus Pro also offers two riding modes: Low and High (H and L, as mentioned on the right-side handlebar). The ‘L' mode on the scooter is essentially the ‘Eco' mode, while 'H' is equivalent to the 'Standard' mode.

The difference between the two modes is pretty evident. The scooter in the ‘L' mode cuts off the power rather quickly, ensuring extended range. While testing, the scooter reached a top speed of 35km/h on the low setting, before the power cut-off.

At this mode, Ampere claims that the Magnus Pro is capable of offering a range of up to 100km. Although, in the real world-conditions, expect the range in ‘L' mode to not be more than 75km.

The ‘High or H' mode on the scooter is where the majority of the power comes in. The top-speed at this setting goes up to 55km/h, although you will end up compromising on the range, which reduces to around the 60km mark.

Apart from the difference in top-speed, the two modes have also been calibrated differently as well. Power delivery on the ‘L' mode is more linear and the scooter takes a few seconds to get up to speed. However, on the higher setting, the power is delivered instantly and the scooter feels more responsive.

The ‘H' mode will be the obvious choice for most riders as the scooter does offer better performance, especially during overtaking or riding up inclines as well.

The Ampere Magnus Pro is also said to be capable of handling a maximum load capacity of 150kg. The scooter itself weighs in at just 82kg making it extremely lightweight and easy to ride in city traffic. Being lightweight, the Magnus Pro can also be thrown into a corner with ease and can also get in and out of tight spaces as well.

The Magnus Pro also comes with a good ground clearance of 150mm. This further helps the scooter from avoiding all bumps, potholes and irregularities on the road, without bottoming-out. The raised footboard, however, does cause a slight level of discomfort. Taller riders will find it harder as the handlebar will end up touching their knees, especially during sharp turns.

Speaking of potholes and speed breakers, the suspension on the Magnus Pro is probably the weakest link in the scooter. The telescopic forks at the front and the coil spring suspension at the rear have been set up too stiff and can cause discomfort to the rider.

The brakes, however, are impressive. The 130mm drum brakes at either end, supported by a combined-braking system does an excellent job in bringing the scooter to a halt quickly and without much fuss.

Features, Colours & Availability

As mentioned before, being a flagship electric scooter the Magnus Pro comes packed with a host of features and equipment. Some of the most important features include LED headlamps, fully-digital instrument cluster, remote key, USB charging port in the boot, plenty of storage spaces, anti-theft alarm, limp-home mode, find-my-scooter and combined-braking system among others.

The Ampere Magnus Pro electric scooter is offered in a choice of four vibrant colour schemes: Bluish Pearl White, Golden Yellow, Metallic Red and Graphite Black. The electric scooter is currently available only in Bangalore, with Ampere Vehicles working on introducing the Magnus Pro in other cities in the coming months.

Price & Competitors

The Ampere Magnus Pro is the brand's latest premium flagship electric scooter. This makes it a direct rival to the likes of Ather 450, Bajaj Chetak electric and even the TVS iQube electric. When compared to the above electric scooter offerings, the Magnus Pro does seem to miss out on a number of premium features, including the all-important connected technology.

Ampere does, however, compensate for the few missing features with a lower price tag. While most of the ‘flagship' electric scooters are priced over the Rs 1 lakh price range, the Ampere Magnus Pro is available with a price tag of Rs 73,990, ex-showroom (Bangalore).

Verdict

The Ampere Magnus Pro electric scooter, although positioned as a premium flagship model, appeals more to the masses. Yes, the Magnus Pro does miss out on features such as connected technology, however, this is compensated with a very attractive price tag, making it more affordable than any of its rivals.

The Ampere Magnus Pro is a value-for-money electric scooter offering in the Indian market. The scooter comes with a stylish design, offers a number of features, good performance and decent ride and handling characteristics as well. The electric scooter also feels well built and should definitely be shortlisted, before making a premium e-scooter purchase.

Rahul Nagaraj Thinks!

The Ampere Magnus Pro electric scooter is actually a strong contender among other flagship models, mainly because of its extremely attractive pricing. The scooter also offers most of the features as on its rivals, apart from connected technology.

The Ampere Magnus Pro is for those looking for a serious value-for-money electric scooter. First-time EV buyers, who want all the features and style but at an affordable price tag. A flagship scooter for the masses.