American startup company Canoo has revealed its latest off-road prototype, called The American Bulldog.
“Like the American Bulldog, this vehicle is loyal and courageous. It’s woven into the American spirit and reflects this country’s innovation,” said executive chairman and CEO of Canoo, Tony Aquila.
“When we say Made in America, we mean it.”
Details on the vehicle are sparse but Canoo has confirmed it will offer two- or-four-wheel drive, steer-by-wire, and brake-by-wire systems.
Powertrain specifications are unknown but it’s likely The American Bulldog could take some of its bits from the company’s Pickup Truck which debuted in 2021 and is likely to go begin deliveries in 2024.
The Pickup Truck is fully electric. It has the choice of dual- or-single-motor powertrains. The dual-motor setup produces 447kW of power and 745Nm of torque.
The electric range of the pickup is over 320km, and it has a payload of around 800kg.
The American Bulldog has a “honeycomb” design which is similar to the startup’s other models.
It has three rectangular LED headlights on either side of the front fascia. On the front bumper there are anchor points, small fog lights, and a skid plate.
The front windscreen is sloped and offers large windows on the A-pillar.
The side profile accentuates its D-shaped cabin. The ute has large black windows, rear-hinged coach doors, wheel arches, and flush door handles.
Placed on the outline of the tray is a black rectangular mesh secured using large red latches. The tailgate has a full-width light bar while the rear bumper offers a step.
Inside, it offers a military truck look with its brown seats and dashboard. The rectangular design on the tray reappears on the door inserts and allows drivers to attach small bags, keys and other smaller items.
The dashboard is very minimalistic, it has a small screen on the driver’s side and a minimal square-shaped wheel which has two controls located on top of the steering wheel.
It’s unclear if the vehicle will hit the production line or not as the company is yet to share any further details.
Pickup Truck
The company’s Pickup Truck is available for pre-order with deliveries expected in 2024.
Once launched, the Canoo truck will face stiff competition including the Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, Lordstown Endurance and Ford’s electric F-150.
The Cybertruck, in particular, will beat it for payload, range and acceleration.
The American Bulldog’s interior
Canoo, which was founded in 2017 by Faraday Future alumni, has revealed three vehicles thus far: the pod-shaped LDV, the related Pickup Truck, and the blocky Multi-Purpose Delivery Vehicle.
It has developed and delivered three Crew Transportation Vehicles for NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida as well as secured a contract with the United States Department of Defense to supply battery modules for analysis and demonstration.
The Los Angeles-based startup hasn’t announced plans to enter the Australian market.
