A new player in the ultra-luxury automotive market is emerging with a vehicle that rivals—and in some cases surpasses—industry legends like Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Based in New York, Dacora Motors has unveiled a $500,000, hand-built electric sedan that blends Streamline Moderne design with state-of-the-art engineering and an unmatched level of personalization. The car’s bold retro-futuristic styling and deep customization promise to redefine what it means to drive a bespoke luxury vehicle.
Designed in collaboration with famed Italian design house Pininfarina, the Dacora sedan’s sweeping form evokes the classic Chrysler Airflow and even wooden Chris-Craft speedboats, with dramatic curves, a wood-and-metal hood, and sculpted body lines that immediately command attention. The vehicle is a modern homage to American Art Deco design, complete with signature features like a “Darrin dip” near the rear doors, marrying nostalgia with futuristic elegance.
Inside, the vehicle sheds all traces of plastic, embracing only natural materials—wood, wool, and leather. The dashboard is a panoramic expanse of wood that conceals hidden screens behind its veneer. When not in use, the tech vanishes, leaving behind only classic design. Analog-style gauges, wood-rimmed steering wheels, and custom upholstery heighten the sensory experience. Everything inside is hand-crafted, down to the seat inserts and console components.
Customization lies at the core of Dacora’s offering. The cabin is modular, with various seating configurations that accommodate between three to six passengers. Owners can select from a menu of themed console modules like “The Larder” (a mini fridge), “The Executive” (a mobile office with a folding desk), “The Barista” (complete with an espresso machine), and “The Virtuoso” (featuring a record player). There’s even “The Botanist,” which features a live bonsai tree under a glass dome. Buyers can also provide their own reclaimed wood for trim, turning sentimental materials like wood from an old family cabin into part of the car’s interior.
Beyond the initial build, the company promises evolving personalization. Dacora’s seating system allows easy reupholstering, and it will release two limited-edition interior material collections annually. This allows owners to refresh the cabin regularly, much like rotating a seasonal wardrobe. Optional wellness features such as halotherapy (salt-infused air) and ambient scenting further personalize the in-cabin atmosphere.
Founded by MIT-trained engineers Kristie and Eric D’Ambrosio-Correll, Dacora Motors will build the vehicle at Dacora Garage—a bespoke manufacturing and lifestyle facility in Hudson, New York, doubling as a social club for owners. The car will not feature a proprietary powertrain; instead, Dacora plans to source its drivetrain from a major U.S. automaker, with GM’s Ultium platform as the likely candidate.
Though final specifications are still being withheld, Dacora is targeting over 800 horsepower, a sub-4-second 0–60 mph time, a 400-mile range, and a hybrid option for those not yet ready to go fully electric.
Dacora has begun accepting refundable $50,000 deposits—10 percent of the full price—and claims to have already secured over 75 reservations. The initial production plan includes 50 units in 2028, followed by 100 in 2029, with an eventual scale-up to 5,000 units annually by the mid-2030s.
The company’s ambitions are substantial, and while many boutique automakers struggle to move beyond prototypes, Dacora appears to be tapping into a gap in the market—one where personalization, heritage, and modern tech converge in a uniquely American package.
Whether the market will embrace its dramatic design language remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the Dacora sedan is impossible to ignore. In an era of homogenized luxury, it dares to be memorable, not just in appearance, but in identity.
