Model X Plaid

Make
Tesla
Segment
SUV

Mullen Automotive, an emerging electric vehicle manufacturer based on California, has just released the specifications of its high-performance electric crossover called the Five RS, along with a visual teaser. It's got the power and performance to keep up with the Tesla Model S Plaid, but like so many EV startups that promise so much, we are keeping our expectations low until it gets closer to production.

Then again, Mullen's recent investment in Bollinger, another EV company, means that it can share resources and hopefully get closer to getting the Five RS on the road. We've seen the regular Five luxury crossover before and it's an attractively styled vehicle - no surprise since the same designer who penned it was responsible for the 2009 Rolls-Royce Ghost - so that bodes well for the much more powerful RS variant.

So what can we expect from the high-performance electric crossover?

With all-wheel drive, 800-volt architecture, and what we assume will be at least two electric motors, the Five RS produces over 1,000 horsepower. Mullen claims a 0-60 mph sprint of only 1.9 seconds, one of the few cars in the world that can reach that mark in under two seconds. It's also quicker than the Model X Plaid, Tesla's quickest SUV, which takes 2.5 seconds for the benchmark sprint.

Mullen claims an insane top speed of 200 mph, likely helped by the fitment of a two-speed gearbox. Not many EVs have a two-speed gearbox, but the Porsche Taycan is an exception, with the extra gear allowing for a higher top speed.

"The Mullen Five RS is an extremely high-performance EV and intended for those who especially enjoy track/high-performance driving," said Calin Popa, president of Mullen. "What we've done with this EV and the specs we've accomplished is indeed an amazing technical achievement."

While Mullen didn't point out specific Five RS rivals, CEO David Michery did say that it would go up against "some of the best and most well-known and regarded automotive marques." If Mullen can get the price right and work on its brand awareness, the BMW iX and Tesla Model X Plaid could have quite a rival, although the Five may slot into the compact crossover segment below these vehicles.

The single teaser image of the Five RS doesn't reveal too much, but we can see larger bronze-colored wheels, additional intakes in front, and fender flares. There is also a hint of a high-mounted spoiler sticking out at the back.

Next month, the regular Five will be featured as part of the brand's "Strikingly Different" US test drive tour. A second leg of the tour will get underway in spring 2023, and that's when we'll get a closer look at the Five RS specifically.

Mullen says that because of the "high-powered capabilities of the RS," consumers won't be allowed to test drive it just yet. However, there will be an opportunity to experience the car from the passenger seat while it is driven by a professional IndyCar race car driver.

Mullen has promised a starting price of $55,000 for the normal Five, which can now be reserved. That is an extremely attractive number for a luxury EV with a 3.2-second 0-60 time and a 325-mile range. Based on that, we estimate that the Five RS could cost around $75,000-$80,000 when it goes on sale. Whether these great prices are kept as they are when the EV eventually goes on sale remains to be seen, but Mullen is clearly not intent on being any ordinary player in the EV space.