Model X Plaid

Make
Tesla
Segment
SUV

Drako Motors, a luxury sports car manufacturer based in San Jose, California, has just revealed its long-awaited Dragon all-electric super SUV, and it makes the Tesla Model X Plaid look utterly dull. Described by the company as "the most powerful, quickest, and fastest production hyper-luxury SUV in history," the Dragon is here to take luxury electric mobility to new heights.

Thanks to four electric motors, as used on the Drako GTE supercar, each wheel is individually controlled, which allows for "high-rpm tank turns that allow the Dragon to effectively spin in place." If that sounds like an unnecessary gimmick, get ready for another unnecessary but attractive feature: the Dragon produces a stunning 2,000 horsepower.

As we mentioned above, the five-seater Dragon has four motors, making for all-wheel drive. These motors are fed by an in-house battery pack that offers 500-kilowatt fast charging and can be recharged to 80% in just 10 minutes for 336 miles of range. When full, the Dragon offers 420 miles of range. But now for the meat and potatoes.

With 2,000 hp, the electric SUV will do 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, a quarter-mile in nine seconds flat (quicker than a Dodge Challenger Demon), and a top speed of over 200 mph. Bringing the behemoth to a stop requires equally aggressive brakes, so carbon-ceramic rotors feature at each corner. In front, 420-millimeter discs are clamped on by 10-piston calipers, while the rears employ six-piston calipers on 410-mm discs. In a vehicle that weighs 4,969 pounds, big brakes are a must.

Despite its apparent straight-line performance focus, Drako says that the multi-stage suspension, low center of gravity, and 50:50 weight distribution will equate to outstanding driving dynamics on the track, the street, and off-road.

On asphalt, the car has 6.4 inches of ground clearance, while the cruise setting takes that to 8.4 and the overland setting increases it to 12.4 inches.

Drako has been developing its DriveOS system and NanoControl Quad Motor dynamics controls in all sorts of environments over the past decade, but the full carbon fiber structure of the vehicle (a world first for a production SUV) is also critical. This structure saves 50% of the weight of the chassis compared to a traditional SUV with double the structural rigidity, helping to offset the weight of the battery pack. It also promises outstanding safety, which is particularly reassuring in a vehicle with no B-pillar.

Speaking of, the vehicle was designed in Italy by Lowie Vermeersch and his GranStudio team, although production will take place here in the US. Let's take a closer look at that attention-grabbing styling.

In the front of the car, channels allow air to pass through the nose, reducing drag and increasing range while also creating downforce at speed. This focus on aerodynamics is aped in the rear, where flying buttresses like those on a Ferrari 599 guide the airflow toward the coda tronca (cut-off) rear end and its diffuser. As stunning as these intricate details are, the gullwing doors that provide access to the front and rear occupants absolutely steal the show. But they also make it easier for those in either row to get in and out of the car. These large doors are designed to open upward more than outward, which means they should work just fine when the vehicle is parked alongside other cars, walls, and so forth. If you ask us, these doors make the Drako Dragon the first true "coupe SUV." 23-inch wheels are standard.

Sadly, those sexy cameras on the wings will likely not be available for US customers, but at least everyone will get vented fenders, a vented hood, and intricate LED lighting. There are even ultra-bright rally lights integrated into the roof. While the chassis is made from carbon, the body panels are constructed from composites, including sustainable natural fibers. These reduce weight and improve rigidity as carbon does while also reducing plastic use by up to 70%. Moreover, at the end of the vehicle's life, these panels can be fully recycled.

A panoramic glass roof helps make the cabin feel light and roomy. The front seats hint at performance but promise outstanding comfort. Taking more cues from a Ferrari, the steering wheel houses all the Dragon's physical driver controls, including turn signals, windshield wipers, headlights, and more.

Between the front occupants, a 17.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display is sited, while the driver gets their own customizable cluster display. Those wing cameras that replace mirrors see their outputs displayed in additional integrated dash screens, but it's unclear how Americans will get their vehicles.

The NHTSA doesn't specifically ban side-view cameras, but it does mandate that all new cars and trucks sold in the US must be equipped with mirrors to show drivers what is alongside and behind them. Technically, the Dragon could be offered in the States with cameras, but it would need to include mirrors as well, which makes the cameras effectively redundant.

Regardless, more screens will be offered in the back, where a rear-seat entertainment package will provide a pair of displays mounted to the leather and carbon fiber front seats. Those in the back also get programmable backlighting that shines through perforated leather panels.

Finally, let's take a look at the hidden technology. That Drako DriveOS we touched on earlier makes use of a single multicore ECU for all functions, including the infotainment system, navigation, traction and yaw management, advanced driver assistance systems, and even climate control. Drako adds that, while most high-performance automotive control systems promise response times in the milliseconds, the DriveOS measures its responses in nanoseconds, thanks to the monolithic architecture as well as the "groundbreaking use of realtime USB networking in place of the traditional CAN structure."

This makes the DriveOS platform and its hardware "infinitely upgradeable and expandable," while also reducing weight through fewer computers and less length in the wiring harness. Simpler installation, lower costs, and easier replacement are also championed through this system, as is outstanding cybersecurity in spite of over-the-air updates.

Base pricing starts at $290,000, with fully refundable reservations now open at $500. Considering the high-end, luxury focus of this vehicle, which is essentially an electric supercar with off-roading capability and space for five, we expect that there will be numerous options to push pricing beyond $300,000. Those who want to pay less and seat more occupants would do better to consider the new Lucid Gravity SUV.

Those who want to be one of the first 99 customers to own the Dragon can reserve a First Edition model for $5,000. However, these buyers will have to wait quite some time for their new SUVs. Production and first customer deliveries are only scheduled to begin in 2026, with an ultimate goal of 5,000 units to be produced each year.