The Chinese company, Gongjianpai Auto Technology, backed by Xiaomi, has officially unveiled the SC-01 electric roadster in China. This lightweight performance EV boasts 425 horsepower and can go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds.
The brand is known as XiaoPaoChe (小跑车) in Chinese, which translates to Small Sports Car (SSC). It was launched in September 2022 and originated from a car tuning startup. Feng Xiaotong, the founder, has been running a YouTube channel called China Car Custom since 2018. Xiaomi has invested tens of millions of yuan in this company, and Liu Dezheng, Xiaomi’s co-founder, serves as one of the directors.
The SSC SC-01 is a compact two-door roadster with a typical sports car appearance featuring sharp headlights, slanted C-pillars, and round taillights. It has relatively small dimensions, measuring 4105/1830/1160 mm with a 2500 mm wheelbase. Notably, it utilizes a space frame with three-dimensional steel tubes, resulting in a curb weight of just 1370 kg. Thanks to its lightweight construction and two electric motors producing 425 hp, it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h rapidly.
The SC-01 features 6-piston brake calipers on the front axle and 4-piston brakes on the rear, paired with 350-mm disc brakes, claiming superior performance to the Porsche 911 GT3’s brakes. Its steering knuckles are made of aluminum, and it uses horizontal pushrod shock absorbers along with Michelin Pilot Sport CUP2 245/40 ZR18 tires for excellent handling.
Powering the SC-01 is a 60 kWh ternary (NMC) battery, providing a claimed range of 520 km. It can be rapidly charged from 30% to 80% in just 25 minutes. The front and rear electric motors generate 160 kW (218 hp) and 280 Nm of torque.
Inside, the SSC SC-01 features a spacious LCD instrument cluster, a sporty three-spoke steering wheel with a flat bottom, and a center tunnel with a rotary gear selector and power window switch. The ceiling houses physical buttons for A/C, front wipers, V2L system, and more. There’s no central screen, but it offers racing bucket seats.
The SC-01 boasts a unique design that draws inspiration from various automakers throughout history, including hints of Corvette, Lamborghini, Lancia Stratos (especially at the rear), and perhaps a touch of Koenigsegg. All these design elements have been condensed into a compact sports coupe, smaller than a Toyota 86 or Porsche Cayman, resulting in a distinctive and intriguing appearance that some may find appealing.
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