Russia Wants To Destroy Tesla With This Retro-Inspired Electric Supercar

Aug. 24, 2018 1:30 PM ET byMartin Bigg /13 Comments

Elon Musk will be quaking in his boots.

Tesla will soon face some stiff competition in the EV segment from major manufacturers, with theJaguar I-Pace,Audi e-tronandMercedes-Benz EQCall launching within the next few years. On the other side of the spectrum, we have the Kalashnikov CV-1.

Built by the Russian firm that manufactures the AK-47 assault rifle, Kalashnikov is billing the retro-inspired electric car as Russia's answer to Tesla. A prototype was recently presented in Moscow with a boxy, retro-style design inspired by the Izh-Kombi, a Soviet hatchback built in the 1970s.

According to the英国广播公司, the company claims the CV-1 features "complex systems" with technology that will let Kalashnikov "stand in the ranks of global electric car producers such as Tesla". The final production car will allegedly have a top speed several times higher than a typical EV, do 0-62 mph in around six seconds, and deliver a range of 220 miles on a single charge. These specs fall way short of the Tesla Model 3, so we don't think Elon Musk has anything to worry about somehow. Kalashnikov hasn't said how much the CV-1 will cost if it ever enters production.

The BBC reports that this "electric supercar" is Kalashnikov latest attempt at taking the brand in different directions after recently launching a clothing line and personal items such as umbrellas and smartphone covers.

Unsurprisingly, reactions to Russia's attempt to take on Tesla have been mixed, with users responding on the company's Facebook page ridiculing its "funny Zombie-like" design, while others praised its "cool" appearance. "Your tanks are great, but it would be better if you stayed away from cars," one user wrote. Kalashnikov was also mocked this week when it unveiled its 13-foot-tall manned robot designed for "carrying out engineering and combat tasks" due to its bulky design at a time when robots are getting sleeker and smaller.