This week Chinese and international audiences will be treated to new automobile designs debuting at the Shanghai Auto Show.
First held in 1985, China’s largest auto show has quickly become an important date on the automotive design calendar. This is just day one, and there are already a few entries turning heads on the showroom floor.
Detroit Electric unveiled its SP:01 EV, calling it the fastest electric vehicle on the planet. With a top speed of 249 km/h (155mph) the SP:01 will reach 100 km/h (62mph) in 3.7 seconds. In addition to its incredible speed, the SP:01 features expertly tuned steering, brakes, suspension and, of course, electric power.
According to Detroit Electric the SP:01’s 37kWh battery will provide the car with enough juice to run for 305.75 km (190 miles) on a single charge. The SP:01 will be immediately available in China and comes with a 1,250,000 RMB ($200,000) price tag.
Nissan Friend-ME-
Designed specifically for Chinese men in their twenties, the Nissan Friend-ME is a four passenger hybrid with, according to Nissan, “more than enough zip for city driving”. Aside from its sporty interior, the Friend-ME is also equipped with numerous screens allowing every passenger to view navigation, entertainment, and other information no matter where they sit. To further encourage young Chinese men to adopt the Friend-ME, Nissan has sculpted the car’s downward swept body to look more like a fierce sports car than your run of the mill sedan.
Toyota FT-HT Yuejia-
The Chinese word “Yuejia” translates to “happy family” and that’s obviously the market that Toyota is looking to capture with its six seat FT-HT design. In a move that puts FT-HT at the intersection of sedan and mini-van, the Yuejia features a unique scissor-door that opens to a cabin containing three rows of two single seats. Designed specifically for the Chinese market, the FT-HT will feature a hybrid engine being developed at Toyota’s Changshu R&D Center.
Images Courtesy of Detroit Electric, Nissan & Toyota