Like most automotive startups, Jannarelly had the unenviable task of proving that it could handle the strains and rigors of being a certified automaker. It’s not enough that the man behind the company, Anthony Jannarelly, designed the Lykan Hypersport and Fenyr Supersport for W Motors. Designing a car is completely different from owning a company that makes cars, but give credit where it’s due because Jannarelly seems to have cleared a lot of hurdles on its way to developing and selling the retro-styled Design-1 roadster. Now there’s more good news as the Design-1 is on track to be made available in the U.S.

According to Carscoops, Jannarelly has struck a distribution deal with VanDouble Enterprises LCC, a New York-based company that will handle the importation and registration of all Design-1 roadsters that make their way to America. The company has also stated, to the relief of those interested in the car, that the Design-1 will be fully legal to drive on U.S. roads.

The car’s status in the U.S. is arguably the most important element that’ll determine the success of the Design-1 in this region and now that it’s been reportedly cleared, it should pave the way for the car to arrive with no issues, provided of course that Jannarelly lives up to its end of bringing them here in the first place. The only caveat to the car’s entry to the U.S. market is the price. Originally priced at about $55,000, the roadster will now cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $84,000, effectively putting it in the range of the entry-level Porsche 911 Carrera.

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Is it worth the price tag?

It’s a fair question to ask and one that I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask myself. In addition to the entry-level 911 Carrera, you can also buy a Jaguar F-Type and a Cadillac ATS-V Coupe for that amount and still have plenty of change left. You can even go the route of the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and the Dodge Challenger and still have plenty of money left.

Given the higher-than-expected price tag and the lack of a brand recognition, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Design-1 doesn’t turn into a hot ticket item here in the U.S. As impressive as it is for Jannarelly to get this far, there are still some challenges that it has to face and trying to establish a name in a segment that’s dominated by more esteemed rivals is one of them.

Then again, I don’t want to shortchange the Design-1 either because it does offer an appetizing array of features and capabilities. It’s got a neb-retro design that should attract its share of eyeballs. It has carbon fiber panels too and it’s built-to-order, which opens up the possibilities for customization. Plus, it has a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that pumps out over 300 horsepower, allowing the roadster to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just four seconds. It’s not the quickest car by any means, but when you combine all these elements with the obvious appeal of driving with your hair blowing in the wind, the Design-1 makes a good case for itself.

I can only hope Jannarelly is successful. I’d like to see more of these startups succeed because they’re good for the business and the auto industry as a whole.