Fisker teases Tesla Model Y competitor

Fisker, the car company founded by designer Henrik Fisker, has released a teaser image of an affordable all-electric crossover to be revealed later this year.

Said to feature a "futuristic, elegant muscular look", the new electric SUV has a prominent lower grille and a glass plate for the radar system where a traditional upper grille would normally reside.

The crossover will come standard with a battery pack rated at over 80kWh, and a target driving range of around 480 kilometres (300 miles).

Higher-end models will be available with 22-inch alloy wheels, and an all-wheel drive system featuring an electric motor for each axle.

According to the company, the cabin will have a head-up display, an "intuitive user interface that will control some of the latest emerging in-vehicle technologies", and plenty of high quality materials.

There will also be an extended length sunroof-style mechanism for an "open-air atmosphere ... without compromising the rugged and safe structural integrity" of the car.

Fisker plans to reveal a driveable prototype of the vehicle by the end of 2019. The company says it is "finalising the selection of a facility, located in the United States" to produce the vehicle from the second-half of 2021.

The base model of the as-yet unnamed electric crossover will be priced around US$40,000 ($56,800), meaning it will compete head on with the Tesla Model Y.

Released late last week, the Model Y will go into production in 2020, and its entry-level variant will be priced from US$39,000 ($56,300).

Fisker's new affordable electric crossover is planned to be the first of three mass-market EVs.

With the company now focussing on volume vehicles, it has decided to delay the introduction of the previously-revealed EMotion.

Originally slated to go into production this year with lithium-ion batteries, the low-volume flagship sedan will be delayed until the company's solid-state battery is ready for prime time.

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