Move Over Cadillac, There’s A New Contender For America’s Most Luxurious EV

Priced from half a million dollars, Dacora Motors’ upcoming EV will be built in New York

The Cadillac Celestiq is getting some unlikely competition from a new startup called Dacora Motors. Unfortunately, the company doesn’t seem that well-versed in the automotive industry as they falsely claimed they’re planning to launch the “first made-in-America ultra-luxury vehicle in nearly a century.”

Cadillac would certainly beg to differ, but Dacora Motors’ car is an oddity that looks like someone asked AI to envision what an ultra-luxury Volkswagen Beetle would look like. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case as the company said the car was “designed in collaboration with the legendary Pininfarina Group.”

More: Cadillac Sollei Concept Is The Four-Seat Ultra-Luxury Convertible Of Our Dreams

It’s not one of their better designs, but Dacora says the vehicle pays “homage to the sweeping forms of 1930s Streamline Moderne.” Specifics are few and far between, but the car has a handcrafted wood hood that is flanked by circular headlights.

They’re joined by bulging fenders, minimalist wheels, and retro-inspired bright work. We can also see a distinctive greenhouse, a sloping rear end, and afterburner-style taillights. Other notable highlights include covered rear wheels and an SUV-like ride height of 7.5 inches (191 mm).

A Classy And Customizable Cabin

The minimalist interior eschews plastic for wood, woven wool, and “toxin-free bioleathers.” The company also said they’re “rejecting screen-dominated cockpits” as the “digital display disappears behind a semi-transparent wooden panel” when not in use. The infotainment display, on the other hand, appears to be projected onto wood trim.

While the company was vague on important details, they said the interior will be fully modular and can be refreshed seasonally. Speaking of which, the company envisions “twice-yearly drops” that will enable owners to “change interiors like wardrobes – think wool for winter, linen for summer, and limited-edition materials for seasonal expression.”

The startup also envisions a modular interior that offers seating for between 3 and 7 people. The 3-seat Executive setup has a rear-lounge configuration with a personal workspace, while the 4-seat Lounge has front and rear captain’s chairs that are separated by custom consoles. Customers can also get dual bench seats and up to 45 inches (1,143 mm) of rear seat legroom

Getting back to the center consoles, the company said there will be versions with a humidor, an integrated espresso machine, and a living bonsai garden housed beneath a glass dome. The company also envisions more traditional setups including a biometric safe and refrigerator.

Electric And Hybrid Powertrains

Specifications are about as hazy as a Canadian wildfire, but Dacora claimed the car will have over 800 hp (597 kW / 811 PS) and a range of around 400 miles (644 km). They also mentioned that the 6,500 lb (2,948 kg) EV will be able to accelerate from 0–60 mph (0-96 km/h) in less than four seconds.

If you’re not a believer in going fully electric, the company has you covered as they promised to offer an optional hybrid powertrain. However, as you’ve probably guessed, they said virtually nothing about it.

Made In New York

Dacora was coy on launch details, but said each vehicle will be handcrafted at their 100-acre Hudson Valley Garage campus in New York.  k. Pricing starts at $500,000, with reservations now open for a refundable deposit of $50,000.

That’s significantly more than the aforementioned Celestiq, which starts from around $340,000 before you even touch the options list. Still, Dacora claims to have “reservations already exceeding 150% of its planned first-year production capacity.” However, they didn’t mention numbers and the lack of information isn’t very reassuring.