Remember those homemade supercar replicas, like the Bugatti Chiron we shared yesterday? Despite nailing most of the exterior features, these home projects all seem to have one fatal flaw, and that’s their proportions, usually due to the limitations posed by the donor car.
What you’re looking at here though, is actually Lebanon’s first-ever electric car, the Electra Quds Rise, and not a homemade project. But somehow, even though it’s a brand-new car, its proportions are just downright odd – as if someone accidentally squished the photo in Photoshop.
The Electra Quds Rise, whose name is derived from the Arabic name for Jerusalem (Al-Quds), claims to be the first car ever – not just fully-electric – to be made in a Mediterranean country “from start to finish”. Although, online commentators are quick to point out that Lebanon is currently struggling through a dire economic crisis, with frequent power cuts – oh the irony.
Anyway, just like Bugatti, Electra also gets its own signature grille design, styled after the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque – Islam’s third-holiest site. The body panels are fibre glass, bolted onto a “superlight aluminum” chassis, while a set of 18-inch staggered forged aluminium wheels complete the exterior package.
Inside, the cabin of the Quds Rise does look fairly lavish, while being minimalistic at the same time. Dominating the dashboard is a 15.9-inch touchscreen display, mounted in a vertical layout.
The Electra Quds Rise is branded as a sportscar, and it does pack some proper performance. According to official documents on Electra’s website, the odd-looking sports car allegedly hits 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, onward to a top speed of 180 km/h. Power comes from a 45 kWh battery that helps the single electric motor on the rear axle deliver 180 hp, through a single speed transmission.
It’s priced at USD30,000 (~RM124k), which is frankly quite cheap when compared to other EV sports car. Then again, affordability is relative; the average annual salary in Lebanon is USD38,000, but most typical Lebanese earn nearer to half of that, at USD17,000. So by all measures, this is a premium car.
Electra hopes to make up to 10,000 units of the Quds Rise by next year, with production to start later this year.
GALLERY
