Mullen FIVE RS

Mullen Automotive, a small US EV startup, has unveiled the FIVE RS - an ultra-high-performance electric crossover with eye-popping claimed figures: over 1,100 horsepower, a 0-60 mph time under two seconds, a 200 mph top speed and 800-volt architecture, paired with a 100 kWh battery and a claimed 300 miles of range. Pricing is supercar-level, from around 295,000 dollars to roughly 385,000 dollars for a carbon-fibre edition.

Mullen has announced a launch in Germany around December 2025, expanding to other EU markets, the UAE and South Africa in 2026, with the US to follow. The crucial caveat is the company itself: Mullen has faced serious financial difficulties and has a weak record of actually delivering vehicles at scale, so these spectacular numbers are claims and announcements rather than proven, verified results. The FIVE RS is best treated as a high-risk, unproven proposition.

On paper, the Mullen FIVE RS's performance is hypercar-grade: a claimed 1,100-plus horsepower, a 0-60 mph time of under two seconds, a 200 mph top speed and braking from 60-0 mph in under 110 feet, driven through an all-wheel-drive system with a two-speed gearbox. The 100 kWh battery is claimed to give around 300 miles of range, with 800V charging taking it from 10 to 80 percent in about 21 minutes.

The vital context is that none of these figures has been independently verified - they are Mullen's own claims for an announced vehicle. Until the car is produced in numbers and tested by credible third parties, the performance and range should be treated as unproven manufacturer claims rather than established facts.

Mullen quotes strong braking for the FIVE RS (60-0 mph in under 110 feet) and the car is expected to feature all-wheel-drive traction, a performance braking system, driver assistance and airbags. However, it has no independent crash-test rating from any recognised body, and as an announced, low-volume startup product, its real-world safety performance is unverified. Anyone considering one should treat the safety claims as unconfirmed and seek independent information once the car is actually in production and tested.

Mullen claims the FIVE RS uses an 800-volt electrical architecture, enabling a 10 to 80 percent DC fast charge in about 21 minutes - competitive with the best performance EVs if achieved. It is expected to use a CCS connector. As with every other figure, this is a manufacturer claim for an announced car, not an independently verified result, so the real-world charging performance remains to be proven once production vehicles are tested.

Warranty terms for the Mullen FIVE RS are not clearly established and would need to be confirmed directly with Mullen Automotive. Given the company's financial difficulties and limited delivery track record, the practical value and reliability of any warranty is a serious consideration - a warranty is only as good as the company standing behind it. Anyone considering this car should scrutinise the maker's financial and operational stability before relying on any warranty or after-sales commitment.

The Mullen FIVE RS is a spectacular set of claims attached to a very uncertain reality. On paper - 1,100-plus hp, sub-2-second 0-60, 200 mph, 300 miles, fast charging - it reads like a hypercar-beating electric crossover. But it comes from Mullen Automotive, a small US startup with serious financial troubles and a weak record of actually delivering vehicles, and none of the figures has been independently verified. This makes it a high-risk, unproven proposition rather than a buyable, established product. Follow it with interest if you like, but for a genuine high-performance EV you can actually rely on, established makers like Tesla, Porsche, Lucid or BMW are far safer bets.

On its claimed numbers, the FIVE RS would rival or beat hypercar-grade EVs like the Tesla Model S Plaid, Lucid Air Sapphire and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT on power and acceleration. The decisive difference is credibility: those rivals are real, proven, independently tested cars from financially stable, established makers, while the FIVE RS is an announced product from a troubled startup with unverified figures and uncertain delivery. So while the Mullen wins on paper specs, it loses heavily on the things that actually matter to a buyer - proven performance, reliability, support and the certainty that the car will be delivered and stand behind its warranty.

Approach the Mullen FIVE RS with extreme caution. Only consider it if you are a high-risk-tolerant buyer who fully understands that the specifications are unverified claims, that Mullen Automotive is financially troubled with a weak delivery record, and that there is real uncertainty over whether and when the car will actually reach you. Even then, scrutinise the company's current financial and production status, and any deposit terms, very carefully. For almost everyone wanting a high-performance EV, an established alternative from Tesla, Porsche, Lucid or BMW is a far safer and more sensible choice.

It is not meaningfully possible to assess real ownership costs for the Mullen FIVE RS, because it is an announced product from a financially troubled startup that has not been delivered or tested at scale. In principle, EV running costs would be low, but the dominant factors here are risk-related: the very high purchase price (around 295,000 to 385,000 dollars), the uncertainty over parts, service and support from a struggling company, and the strong possibility of poor or unpredictable resale value. These risks far outweigh any energy or maintenance savings, and should be central to any decision.

Any EV tax benefits for the Mullen FIVE RS would depend entirely on the market and are largely academic given the car's uncertain availability and very high price (most EV incentives are capped well below 295,000 dollars). In its announced launch markets such as Germany, EV incentives are typically aimed at affordable models, not supercars. There is no clear, current US incentive picture for it either. In short, do not factor in meaningful tax benefits, and confirm the actual rules in any market where it is genuinely offered.

Maintenance for the Mullen FIVE RS is unproven. While an EV drivetrain is mechanically simple, a 1,100-hp performance car with a two-speed gearbox, big brakes and wide tyres would have significant performance-related upkeep, and - more importantly - the availability of parts and qualified service from a financially troubled startup is highly uncertain. There is a real risk that servicing such a car could become difficult or impossible if the company struggles. This support risk is one of the strongest reasons to be cautious about the FIVE RS.