Did you feel a bit disappointed by the recently revealed Land Rover Defender's styling? That's OK - Bollinger Motors has the answer for you.
Electric startup, based in Detroit
Bollinger is a US startup, based in Detroit, that wants to start selling simple-looking, ultra-rugged SUVs and trucks, very much in the mould of the original Defender. These just-revealed four-door and pickup versions have a definite visual affinity to the original Land Rover, and just like that car, they're designed to be hard-working vehicles, not mere poseurs.
614hp from two electric motors
Both models are electric, with two motors (one front, one rear) creating four-wheel drive and generating a heady 614hp and 668Nm of torque. That's enough for a 0-100km/h time in the region of 4.8 seconds. Both use a 120kWh battery pack that should be enough for a one-charge range of more than 350km.
Will eventually spread to apps and mobile devices
Founder and CEO Robert Bollinger's vision to "reinvent trucks, not just electrify them," took root in 2015 when he recognized the shortcomings of traditional trucks on his farm. "It was time we did something new," said Bollinger. "I just wanted to build the best truck without compromise."
He certainly seems to haver done that. Off-road and hard-working attributes includes a two-speed high-and-low ratio gearbox (unusual for an electric car), 381mm ground clearance, with 253mm of wheel travel, and a whopping 2.2-tonne payload weight, and a 3,400kg towing weight. There's some clever design to go with the simplicity, too - because there's no engine up front, there's an opening flap in the bulkhead that allows extra-long items of cargo to be carried. Sounds like an IKEA challenge waiting to happen, to us...
Bollinger says that while its priorities are the US and Middle East markets, the cars are designed to be road-legal in every market around the world, so there's hope for European and maybe even Irish sales some day. Assuming Land Rover doesn't scramble the copyright police any time soon...