Latest news with #Dacora
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Move over, Rolls-Royce – America's first homegrown ultra-luxury vehicle in almost a century is here to steal its crown
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Dacora is the first female-founded and led automotive brand The debut model has been designed with Pininfarina Group Swappable upholstery is just one of many unique traits Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Mercedes-Maybach… soon you'll be able to add another, albeit far less recognizable, name to that list of the world's most luxurious car makers. US start-up Dacora is here and wants a piece of the ultra-high-net-worth pie. Founded in New York's Hudson Valley by MIT-trained engineers Kristie and Eric D'Ambrosio-Correll, the fledgling brand is the first of its kind to be founded and led by a female CEO, as well as the first to have the confidence to command $500,000 (around £370,000 / AU$770,000) for a highly-personalized electric vehicle without hundreds of years worth of history to back it up. The price point is set as such because Dacora claims each vehicle is 'meticulously handmade' using American-sourced components and materials. The 1930s-inspired design, produced in collaboration with Italy's renowned Pininfarina Group, pays homage to the glamorous streamliners of Hollywood's Golden Age. Long hoods, shapely fenders and the option to specify real metal and hardwood inlays on the exterior are just a few of the stylistic talking points. Inside, you won't find any nasty plastics or cheap scratchy surfaces, as Dacora is only turning to natural wood, leather and woven wool for its interiors. Image 1 of 3 Image 2 of 3 Image 3 of 3 In fact, the company says there will be twice-yearly 'drops' that will allow customers to completely swap out the interior fabrics with the changing seasons – wool for winter, linen for summer, for example. The currently unnamed debut model will be available with anything from three- to seven-seat configurations, with each seat including its own independent lighting and climate controls. Money No Object We're all about offering practical buying advice at TechRadar, giving our readers expert tips and insights on how to choose the right gadgets. But every so often, we also like to celebrate some of the more ridiculous tech on the market – the luxurious, high-end products that are simply fun to dream about buying. That's the kind of kit we cover in our regular Money No Object column, which you can read more of here. Dacora wants to take us back to a time when driving was a sensory experience, so has ditched today's screen-dominated cockpit, relying on just one, non-touchscreen display to take care of infotainment duties. When not in use, this screen apparently disappears behind a semi-transparent wooden panel, while all controls are mechanical. Quite the analog move for two MIT-trained engineers. As for performance, Dacora is yet to announce exact EV powertrain details, but says it is aiming for over 800hp and a projected 400-mile all-electric range. There will also be the option of a hybrid powertrain on request. Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 Co-founder and CEO Kristie D'Ambrosio-Correll was the former CTO of Mirror, a smart fitness product that proved a popular lifestyle product with the very wealthy. Building on this blueprint, Dacora will open its 100-acre Hudson Valley Garage next year, complete with on-site production, design atelier and rooms for guests to stay. Every car will be a bespoke, personal commission, with the brand's designer on-hand to guide them through the process. Customers will also get to enjoy curated events, 'immersive experiences' and all of the other lovely things rich people like to fill their spare time with. Dacora will have to nail this side of things, because early images of the vehicle reveal divisive styling and half a million US dollars buys a lot of Rolls-Royce, which remains the final word in automotive opulence and the ultimate show of wealth. I've tried Apple CarPlay Ultra – it fixes everything that's irritating about CarPlay, but there's a catch The myth of Megawatt charging – and why Porsche doesn't think it's the answer to smoother EV journeys Forget Rolls-Royce – after living with the new Lexus LM350h, I've decided we have a new king of luxury
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Move over, Rolls-Royce – America's first homegrown ultra-luxury vehicle in almost a century is here to steal its crown
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Dacora is the first female-founded and led automotive brand The debut model has been designed with Pininfarina Group Swappable upholstery is just one of many unique traits Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Mercedes-Maybach… soon you'll be able to add another, albeit far less recognizable, name to that list of the world's most luxurious car makers. US start-up Dacora is here and wants a piece of the ultra-high-net-worth pie. Founded in New York's Hudson Valley by MIT-trained engineers Kristie and Eric D'Ambrosio-Correll, the fledgling brand is the first of its kind to be founded and led by a female CEO, as well as the first to have the confidence to command $500,000 (around £370,000 / AU$770,000) for a highly-personalized electric vehicle without hundreds of years worth of history to back it up. The price point is set as such because Dacora claims each vehicle is 'meticulously handmade' using American-sourced components and materials. The 1930s-inspired design, produced in collaboration with Italy's renowned Pininfarina Group, pays homage to the glamorous streamliners of Hollywood's Golden Age. Long hoods, shapely fenders and the option to specify real metal and hardwood inlays on the exterior are just a few of the stylistic talking points. Inside, you won't find any nasty plastics or cheap scratchy surfaces, as Dacora is only turning to natural wood, leather and woven wool for its interiors. Image 1 of 3 Image 2 of 3 Image 3 of 3 In fact, the company says there will be twice-yearly 'drops' that will allow customers to completely swap out the interior fabrics with the changing seasons – wool for winter, linen for summer, for example. The currently unnamed debut model will be available with anything from three- to seven-seat configurations, with each seat including its own independent lighting and climate controls. Money No Object We're all about offering practical buying advice at TechRadar, giving our readers expert tips and insights on how to choose the right gadgets. But every so often, we also like to celebrate some of the more ridiculous tech on the market – the luxurious, high-end products that are simply fun to dream about buying. That's the kind of kit we cover in our regular Money No Object column, which you can read more of here. Dacora wants to take us back to a time when driving was a sensory experience, so has ditched today's screen-dominated cockpit, relying on just one, non-touchscreen display to take care of infotainment duties. When not in use, this screen apparently disappears behind a semi-transparent wooden panel, while all controls are mechanical. Quite the analog move for two MIT-trained engineers. As for performance, Dacora is yet to announce exact EV powertrain details, but says it is aiming for over 800hp and a projected 400-mile all-electric range. There will also be the option of a hybrid powertrain on request. Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 Co-founder and CEO Kristie D'Ambrosio-Correll was the former CTO of Mirror, a smart fitness product that proved a popular lifestyle product with the very wealthy. Building on this blueprint, Dacora will open its 100-acre Hudson Valley Garage next year, complete with on-site production, design atelier and rooms for guests to stay. Every car will be a bespoke, personal commission, with the brand's designer on-hand to guide them through the process. Customers will also get to enjoy curated events, 'immersive experiences' and all of the other lovely things rich people like to fill their spare time with. Dacora will have to nail this side of things, because early images of the vehicle reveal divisive styling and half a million US dollars buys a lot of Rolls-Royce, which remains the final word in automotive opulence and the ultimate show of wealth. I've tried Apple CarPlay Ultra – it fixes everything that's irritating about CarPlay, but there's a catch The myth of Megawatt charging – and why Porsche doesn't think it's the answer to smoother EV journeys Forget Rolls-Royce – after living with the new Lexus LM350h, I've decided we have a new king of luxury
Auto Blog
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Meet Dacora: The American EV Brand Challenging Rolls-Royce's Throne
You may not have heard of Dacora, but its ambition is just as loud as its desired competitors from Europe. The First Female-Founded Luxury Car Brand With classic 1930s styling, a Pininfarina-designed coachbuilt body, and over 800 electric horsepower, new luxury EV startup Decora has officially launched, announcing its ambitious entry to the ultra-luxury segment where it plans to take on the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Founded by MIT-trained engineers Kristie and Eric D'Ambrosio-Correll, with the former acting as the carmaker's CEO, Dacora claims to be the first female-founded and led automotive brand, touting over 30 years of combined experience in product design, systems engineering, and hardware innovation. The company is backed by Female Founders Fund, an early-stage venture firm focused on women-led businesses. But what about the product? It's still unnamed, but it will be an American-made (and American-sourced, apparently), pure-electric EV with an eye-popping $500,000 price tag. What Is Dacora's First Model? Apart from the nostalgic, albeit polarizing style, the Dacora EV features heritage wood options allowing personal material integration, swappable upholstery collections you can replace twice a year (including seasonal materials like wool and linen), an adjustable floor system for ergonomic precision, and modular seating (3 to 7 seats) with independent lighting and climate controls. In short, the half-a-million EV offers Rolls-Royce levels of customization, with a fully modular interior that's reconfigurable even after purchase. No plastic is used in the interior, with Dacora only offering hardwoods, woven wool, and hand-stitched leathers as options. A non-touchscreen infotainment display is hidden behind a semi-transparent wooden panel, while mechanical dials and switches are present for controls. 800 HP & 400 Miles: Can It Really Beat Rolls-Royce? Dacora has yet to provide any specific details about its EV's specifications, but has declared promising estimates. The overall output is rated at over 800 hp, while the all-electric range is rated at 400 miles – numbers that surpass the Rolls-Royce Spectre. Customers who don't want pure electric propulsion can also opt for a hybrid setup, though details of the combustion engine to be used were not disclosed. Dacora promises an extraordinary customer experience to go with its vehicles. A 100-acre Hudson Valley Garage with production, design atelier, guest accommodations, and immersive experiences will open in 2026. Vehicles are sold by concierge appointment only, with each customer assigned a personal advisor for commissioning and customization. Owners will also receive symbolic keys granting access to exclusive events and behind-the-scenes experiences. With no delivery date disclosed, Dacora said that reservations for its first model have already exceeded 150% of planned first-year production. On its website, Dacora requires a fully refundable $50,000 deposit for customers to secure their reservations. About the Author Jacob Oliva View Profile
