LECAR

Lecar 459: the first Brazilian hybrid car inspired by the Tesla Model Y

On Saturday (02/15), the Brazilian automaker Lecar exclusively revealed here the mock-up (a styrofoam model) of the 459, the brand's debut model and the first Brazilian hybrid car. Models like this help designers identify possible flaws in the design.

Lecar, a Brazilian brand that is emerging in the national market, presented the mockup — a full-scale model — of the 459 crossover, the first flex-fuel hybrid car of a national design.

Very different from the first prototype, of very questionable taste, the Lecar 459 Hybrid (as it is advertised) shows that its shapes will be very faithful to the digital images presented on the company's website.

With flowing lines that are much more attractive than the old Model 459, the Lecar 459 is an independent project by Flávio Assis and is already quite mature in its development, parallel to the project to build a factory in Espírito Santo, the businessman's home state. Equipped with a 122 horsepower, 22.4 kgfm Horse HR10 1.0 Turbo Flex engine, in addition to a 165 horsepower, 26.5 kgfm electric motor, the Lecar 459 Hybrid will have an 18.4 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery.

The mechanical assembly will have 165 hp of power and, according to the brand, promises to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.9 seconds. Once again opening the comparison with the Toyota Corolla Cross, another hybrid, the Lecar 459 should have 43 hp more power. This will make the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h 2 seconds faster than that of the Japanese competitor.

Measuring 4.350 m long, 1.820 m wide, 1.520 m high and 2.700 m between axles, the Lecar 459 Hybrid will be very stylish even on the inside, where the brand already designs very enveloping and visually striking seats. Lecar's compact model finally embodies the shapes presented by Flávio Figueiredo Assis, the “Brazilian Elon Musk”, with lines inspired by the Tesla Model Y.

It will guarantee a range of up to 1,000 km for the 459, with the crossover going from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.9 seconds. With production planned for August 2026, the crossover is the first initiative of a national car in a long time.

The Lecar 459 will be a coupe SUV, designed as a smaller version of the Tesla Model 3. It is 4.35 meters long, 1.82 meters wide, 1.52 meters high and has a 2.70 meter wheelbase. The trunk will have a capacity of 530 liters. The size is slightly smaller than that of the Toyota Corolla Cross, which is 4.46 meters long, 1.82 meters wide, 1.62 meters high and has a wheelbase of 2.64 meters. The Japanese SUV's luggage compartment is smaller, with 440 liters.

Due to its size, the Lecar 459 seems to be a car that will compete with compact SUVs and the almost extinct mid-size sedans.

With this new step by Lecar, the 459 is no longer just a 3D projection. But there are still a lot of details that need to be finalized.

The interior, for example, has not yet been revealed, but the brand said that the leather for the seats will be supplied by JBS, a company known for trading animal protein.

See the 459's technical specifications:

Engine: 1.0 turbo;

Fuel: flex;

Power: 122 hp at 5,000 rpm;

Torque: 22 kgfm;

Combined power: 165 hp;

Combined torque: 26 kgfm;

Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h: 10.9 seconds;

Length: 4.35 m;

Width: 1.82 m;

Height: 1.52 m;

Wheelbase: 2.70 m;

Trunk: 530 liters;

Wheels: 18 inches;

Tires: 225/50.

--Mundoquatrorodas--