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Behold, the Russian ‘electric supercar’ that’s supposed to challenge Tesla

The retro-looking CV-1 is built by arms maker Kalashnikov

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The CV-1 electric car, produced by Russian arms maker Kalashnikov. Photo: Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse

Russian arms maker Kalashnikov on Thursday presented its new electric car inspired by a rare 1970s model, saying the new technology will rival Elon Musk’s Tesla.

The brand, best known for the AK-47 machine gun, presented the decidedly retro-looking pale blue prototype, the CV-1, at a defence expo outside Moscow.

The look was inspired by a Soviet hatchback model developed in the 1970s called “Izh-Kombi,” a statement on the Kalashnikov website said.

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Holding company Kalashnikov Concern said it has developed some cutting-edge elements for the “electric supercar”, including a “revolutionary” inverter. The vehicle can travel 350 kilometres on one charge.

“We are developing our own concept of an electric supercar, which is based on several original systems developed by the concern,” the firm said.

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“This technology will let us stand in the ranks of global electric car producers such as Tesla and be their competitor,” RIA-Novosti further quoted the Kalashnikov press-service as saying.

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