When you see the headlines you can’t help but wonder, “Wait, what car is this???” And then when you see the images, you really wanna know.
It looks like China’s Small Sports Car Company (SSCC) is the latest to be inspired by the Lotus lineup. And I’m never one to ignore that, even if it’s a Lotus copy that I’ll never be able to have. The United States has continued its desperate attempts to keep out Chinese vehicle imports by any means it can, from claiming it’s a security problem to warning that domestic automakers will go under. But it will be interesting to see how the SC01 fairs in the UK, where Lotus is big. Well, big for being small.
Anthony Chapman’s “simplify, then add lightness” motto has become an important one in the auto industry. It’s something a lot of brands want to emulate. And they can by copying the Elise and other Lotus models. This includes the Mazda MX-5, Vauxhall VX220, Hennessey Venom GT, and even the Tesla Roadster.
The latest is the SC01.
The Chinese electric Lotus
China’s SSCC is clearly very inspired by Lotus, and for good reason. Now they’ve created what Car and Driver calls an affordable Lotus EV.
At around 3,000 pounds, it’s light for an EV (although not as light as the Elise itself). It has a 60-kWh battery and two electric motors, making 430 horsepower. It’s nothing compared to the 1,000-plus horsepower that some Chinese EVs are pointlessly boasting, but it’s enough to make the SC01 take off like a rocket. It reaches 60 miles per hour in around 3 seconds.
Also, it’s gorgeous. You know I’m a sucker for Lotus. I’ve always said that EVs look a bit soulless and depressing, like someone gave up on having fun just to save money at the pump or feel better about the planet’s inevitable end. But the SC01 has done what most brands have not been willing to do: make an affordable, non-hypercar EV sports car that looks aggressive, stylish, aerodynamic, and beautiful. It sorta looks like an Evora.
And that’s the last sting to American car enthusiasts: it’s just $34,000. Well, over in China, anyway. We don’t know how much it will be when it makes its way to the UK, but it won’t be over-the-top like the James Bond’s BYD.
And either way, it proves that China can make EVs cool. That’s the big thing. Obtainable, cool EVs that don’t make you regret having children. I wish it would be enough for the U.S. government to admit it has FOMO and let us give it a try. But until then, I’m sticking to gas-powered sports cars.
