Cybertruck has made all the headlines in recent years for its futuristic looks and a mixed bag of reviews, lopsided between opposite poles. You either hate the sharply designed vehicle or love it to bits; there is no middle ground. Tesla has not left anything to chance or stayed within the conventions to craft the rugged SUV. The looks are unmatched, and so is the durability, with the former inspiring many design iterations.
Another futuristic-looking van has been spotted with the striking Cybertruck’s face. Designed by Russian startup Russo-Balt, the electric van has the telltale Tesla flair. I would even take the leverage and brand this one the lovechild of a Cybertruck and Weiqiao New Energy V90. The makers have named the van F200 and claim it is their original design. The last bit I would question openly, as it has borrowed Cybertruck aesthetics – anyone could tell!
Designer: Russo-Balt
The van is more than a pipedream or a prototype concept that would pass off with time. Russo-Balt plans to take it to the production lines by January 2027, and already, the F200 has been spotted on the roads. Interestingly, the century-old brand (a renowned automaker and railway carriage builder) that operated from 1869 to 1918, got a revival with new management. The electric vehicle comes in an unpainted stainless steel body, and the buyers can opt for the polyurethane wraps in a wide range of colors if the stainless steel look is too bland for you.
At the beginning of this article, we made the Cybertruck reference quite a few times, and the nifty details further reiterate the fact. The electric van gets full-width LED headlights and rear lights. Even the rear resembles Tesla’s electric truck bed cover. The chassis is made out of monocoque material, which makes it more robust than those on ladder-frame chassis. This gives the van a payload capacity of 2,205 pounds. Russo-Balt has complete trust in the body of the vehicle, and a 100-year warranty keeps the buyers at peace of mind from any structural damage.
F200 is powered by a single electric motor that delivers 200 hp to the front wheels. Power is extracted from the 115 kWh battery pack that has an estimated range of 249 miles. The EV can be fast-charged via the port at the front, which is a good feature to have. Keeping Russia’s cold weather in mind, the vehicle comes with a climate control system, rear air suspension, ABS, and ESP. The heating on the vehicle extends to the steering wheel, mirrors, and the windshield as well. A 360-degree camera with a live streaming feature adds to the safety and the ability to craft interesting content while on adventures.
The team behind the F200’s development brings its expertise in crafting stainless steel water dispensers to the four-wheeler, with material fabrication showing the intended results. Initially, the van will be made on an order basis with a starting price of around $85,200. Interested buyers can already make a refundable security deposit of $131 to secure their unit when it hits the production queues. Russo-Balt is also working on a second variant dubbed F400, which will have Four Wheel Drive electric motors assisted by a range-extending gas engine. In total, both of them will churn out 400 horsepower.
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