1,000-HP Mullen Five RS Electric CUV Delivers Preemptive Model Y Plaid Strike at CES 2024

Currently, the rumor mill believes that alongside the Tesla Model 3 Highland update, there could also be a Model 3 Plaid debuting in the United States this year – but there's no word on a Model Y Plaid. Well, even if it were, there's already a direct competitor. It's called Mullen Five RS and will ideally come to market with more than 1,000 horsepower developed on an 800V architecture.

With that kind of oomph, it is no wonder the "high-performance sports EV crossover" will hit a maximum speed of over 200 mph (321 kph), reach zero to 60 mph (96 kph) in less than two seconds, and even feature a braking distance of less or equal to 110 feet (33.5 meters). Naturally, there's a dual-motor front and rear powertrain with AWD on board, and the battery pack is sizeable, too, at 100 kWh.

Even better, we already have a glimpse of the Mullen Five RS because the crossover SUV was recently unveiled in front of the global audience at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, there are a lot of 'ifs' related to the Plaid-level performance specifications – and we cannot help but wonder if Mullen will suffer the same fate as countless other startups and one day reveal that everything about the Five RS was vaporware.

In case you have never heard of Mullen, the Brea, California-based company was founded ten years ago and currently sells both passenger electric vehicles and commercial vehicles. However, there's a big catch – they're primarily selling Chinese captive imports like the Campus, One, Three, Go, and GT – the Five RS is their first-ever proprietary product.

Currently, Mullen, the owner of a controlling stake in Bollinger Motors, another EV startup, is not impervious to controversy due to its business model. Alas, the super crossover probably wants to make a statement at CES 2024 with its intriguing styling, massive performance claims, and a production window postponed to late 2025 from the initial timeline of early 2024. This should be interesting, right?

By the way, the specifications are more than compelling: Brembo ceramic brakes with six and four-piston calipers, 22-inch wheels, an "ultra-performance racetrack mode" designed to adjust everything from throttle map to battery cooling and the steering feel, an integrated infotainment system with facial recognition technology (oh, intimacy is crying out loud here) and Persona, an AI-based personal assistant, plus racing-inspired luxury interiors featuring carbon fiber door inserts and nubuck leather plus Alcantara trim inserts.

So, would you buy one, especially if it meets its last desiderates – a 300-mile maximum range and charging times of 35 minutes from zero to 80% at compatible 800V DC fast chargers?