Lordstown Motors Corp. has had quite a long gestation period, but is now busy building and testing Beta prototypes of its upcoming Endurance all-electric electric pickup truck. Nonetheless, one of the biggest tests for Lordstown's 600-hp Endurance electric pickup is yet to come. For that, the carmaker will be putting its Endurance pickup into a grueling challenge by entering its skateboard platform in the 2021 SCORE International San Felipe 250.
Taking Tests Further To San Felipe 250
Lordstown's progress in the development of its Endurance electric pickup truck has been steady. After its successful prototype and Alpha builds, the carmaker is proceeding with the first Beta Endurance vehicles. In fact, Lordstown has already commenced the metal stamping and welding for the first 57 Beta prototypes of the Endurance.
For now, the Beta Endurance test mule is still in skateboard form – barely a moving metal skeleton. This Beta skateboard has been undergoing various tests designed to determine how far development has come and what changes should still be implemented. Lordstown found it compelling to take the tests further by entering the San Felipe 250 on April 17, 2021.
San Felipe 250: A 290-Mile Backbreaking Rally In The Desert
The San Felipe 250 is the 2021 season opener of the SCORE World Desert Championship race series. It's a 290-mile single loop race that starts and finishes in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico. The endurance contest runs through the San Felipe desert, an extremely arid desert with a grueling and punishing terrain.
Thus, the San Felipe 250 would be a perfect setting to test to the extreme the toughness and robustness of the Lordstown Beta skateboard. Finishing the San Felipe 250 would be a significant milestone not just for Lordstown but also for the EV community. If successful, the Lordstown Endurance would be the first EV to complete the San Felipe 250.
Beta Prototypes To Undergo Various Tests Before Production
Lordstown expects to complete the first full-body Beta series prototypes in March , which will be used for crash, engineering and validation testing. Some of these vehicles might be sent to customers for their end-user feedback.
Production of the final version will commence in September 2021. Initial trucks will be in crew cab configuration with medium bed length. Now available for pre-order, the Endurance has a price of $45,000 once federal rebate is applied.
Source: Lordstown Motors