Fisker previews electric SUV to rival the Tesla Model Y

American start-up company Fisker has detailed more of its upcoming electric SUV ahead of a launch in the second half of 2021.

A new preview image shows that the Tesla Model Y rival will ride high and feature modern, utilitarian styling. Flared arches hint at the EV's performance potential, while narrow headlights and chrome detailing are a nod to the brand's 2018 Emotion concept. 

Like the Model Y, the as-yet-unnamed Fisker will be priced from less than $40,000 (£30,200) in the US. It features what the firm calls “captivating design touches that have been traditionally reserved for supercars in the past”.

Confirmed styling details include a front-mounted radar in place of a grille, a large front air intake, flared wheel arches and a futuristic headlight design. 

Performance details haven't been revealed, but an 80kWh lithium ion battery pack is claimed to provide of a range of nearly 300 miles. The car will be available in four-wheel-drive form with an electric motor mounted on each axle. 

Fisker hints at the presence of a targa-style removable roof section, stating that “with the touch of a button, an extended open-air atmosphere will be made possible without compromising the rugged and safe structural integrity of an SUV”. 

It also claims the interior will offer class-leading space and feature a large head-up display and an intelligent user interface.

Henrik Fisker, company founder, said the new model will take the form of “a desirable, luxuriously rugged and green vehicle that’s accessible to people across the US and the world”.

It's not yet confirmed where the new model will be produced, but Fisker said prototype testing will begin before the end of this year.

The company is also at work on developing solid-state battery technology, which it says would allow its vehicles to gain 500 miles worth of charge in as little as one minute. 

Fisker Inc. was formed in 2016, succeeding the bankrupted Fisker Automotive company that launched the Karma range-extender electric luxury saloon – now re-engineered and on sale as the Karma Revero – in 2011.

Also read: Former Volkswagen and Toyota top executive Don Jackson to lead Fisker’s manufacturing operations