auto

Pure Electric

Electrification of the auto world continues at pace, with many major car makers throwing their R&D hopes (and future sales dreams) on the emerging clean technology. Still, if you really want to get the pulse of the electric car state-of-the-art, you should look to one of these four car makers solely dedicated to manufacturing the electric future.

Faraday Future FF 91 Futurist Alliance

Developed in a think tank and just about to start manufacturing in China, Faraday Future is an innovative electric vehicle upstart to keep your eye on. Its first platform, the FF 91, is an all-electric, autonomous-drive-ready, seamlessly connected automobile with a futuristic design that looks like nothing else on the road (and it zips from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.4 seconds). Three separate electric motors and patented FF Echelon Inverter technology squeeze unmatched power from the vehicle’s battery to deliver 381 miles of range between charges. The company just announced the FF 91 is undergoing final debugging ahead of a planned production launch very soon. Preorder deposits for the flagship 1,050hp Futurist Alliance version are fully booked (at $5,000), but you can join a waiting list on the company’s website or wait for a preorder opportunity for the standard FF 91 (anticipated soon). Full starting prices are expected to be around $180,000. ff.com

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Rivian

Focusing on all-electric trucks (the starting-at-$73,000 R1T pick-up) and SUVs (the staring-at-$78,000 R1S), Rivian has created quite a stir as a successful object lesson on how big, rough, durable and flexible vehicles can make outstanding use of the latest electrification technologies. The latest-to-market R1S (which launched last year and carries no significant upgrades for the 2023 model year), is an unapologetic full-size, family-friendly, burly SUV offering 260 to 321 miles of range, a 7,700-pound towing capacity, more than three feet of wading depth, a 0 to 30 mph jump of three seconds, a full all-wheel-drive drivetrain, three-row seating for seven passengers, and over 104 cubic feet of cargo area. It certainly sounds like a world-class SUV; except it’s all-electric, and, if you look close, the interior design and flourishes are actually a step or two above some traditional fuel luxury SUV competitors. rivian.com

There is simply no denying the first-to-market, ubiquitous appeal of owning a Tesla product. In production since 2009, Tesla has an established and coherent retail and maintenance network and long-term performance track record of addressing the needs of eco-friendly drivers with penchants for speed and style. Its peppy Model Y crossover, for example, offers 76 cubic feet of cargo space, a dual-motor all-wheel-drive function, and 331-mile charge range starting at about $53,490. In the U.S., certain Model Ys qualify for a federal tax credit for eligible buyers (this is soon to finish), putting the sticker tag comfortably in the sweet spot of other traditional-fuel crossover competitors. tesla.com