California-based startup Drako has taken the wraps off its second production model, a fully electric hyper-SUV that is called the Dragon. The follow-up to the Fisker Karma-based Drako GTE is based on a carbon-fiber monocoque, with a quad motor powertrain producing a monstrous 2,000 hp. The Drako Dragon measures 199 inches (mm) long, 81 inches (mm) wide, and 63 inches (mm) tall, with a curb weight of 2,254 kg. This makes it slightly longer, wider, and shorter than the Tesla Model X while weighing 255 kg less than the heaviest P100D.
Drako’s first SUV was designed by Lowie
Vermeersch and his GranStudio team in Italy, featuring two large gullwing
doors, a coupe-style roofline, 23-inch alloy wheels, and aggressive aero
including a hole in the grille that leads out to the bonnet and flying
buttresses. Inside the five-seater cabin, there is a massive 17.1-inch
touchscreen for the infotainment, a smaller digital instrument cluster, two
screens for the mirror-replacing cameras, and two equally large tablets on the
seatbacks for the rear passengers.
The company claims that the Dragon is “the
most powerful, quickest, and fastest production hyper-luxury SUV in history”.
Indeed, with a combined output of 2,000 hp, a 0-97 km/h acceleration
in 1.9 seconds, a 9-second quarter mile, and a top speed of over 322
km/h, it easily outperforms any other production SUV with ICE, hybrid, and EV
powertrains. For comparison, the Tesla Model X Plaid which is the current holder
of those titles produces 1,020 hp, accelerates from 0-97 km/h in 2.5
seconds, does a 9.9-second quarter mile, and tops out at 262 km/h. We
must note though that Tesla’s numbers have been confirmed in real life, while
Drako has only given us estimates since the Dragon is not yet in production.
The model is based on a carbon-fiber
structure that according to Drako saves 50 percent of the chassis weight while
offering twice the structural rigidity compared to a conventional SUV. The
floor-mounted battery is good for 676 km of estimated EPA range,
and supports 500 kW charging, although Drako didn’t give us the capacity. The
adaptive suspension changes the ground clearance depending on the selected
mode, with 163 mm on Tarmac, 213 mm on Cruise, and up
to 315 mm on Overland. The carbon ceramic rotors measure 16.5 inches with ten-piston calipers at the front and 16.1 inches with six-piston calipers at the rear.
The Drako Dragon has a list price of US$ 290,000 which is surprisingly low compared to the US$ 1.25 million asking price
of the Drako GTE. The company has already started accepting reservations for a
refundable US$ 500. If you want the First Edition, this is limited to 99 units
with a US$ 5k reservation fee. Deliveries of the Drako Dragon are not expected
before 2026, with a planed production of 5,000 units per year.
