Finally Someone Is Doing It: New Chinese Company Develops Small Electric Sportscar
Many have said that EVs would be more easily accepted if there was just an affordable small electric sportscar. A new Chinese company called Leap Motor is now working on just that. Their first car will be called the LP-S01, a small coupe about the size of a Mazda Miata MX5.
Leap Motor was founded in 2017. They are headquartered in China’s Zhejiang Province. Their total investments stands at 2.5 billion yuan or $380 million. Their factory is currently under construction. Production will start in 2018 with a full capacity if 250,000 units a year.
There is just one image of the LP-S01 on the company’s website, showing a very sporty shape.
The LP-S01 will be powered by an apparently rather advanced power train called Heracles. The unit combines the drive-motor, the motor control modules, and the speed reducer. Leap Motors claims a maximum output of 270 hp and 6500 (six-thousand five-hundred) Nm. They also say the entire is 30% lighter and 40% smaller than a tradition setup. The unit weights 91 kilo. The battery pack is located under the floor.
Earlier on the company said range would be about 350 kilometers and price about 200,000 yuan or $30,000. Factory prices are normally before-subsidies. The current subsidy on EVs is 90,000 yuan, so price at the dealer could be as low as 110,000 yuan or $16,600.
Wide shoulders and a long rear deck.
The interior is a work of beauty, the light colors look great and I especially like the white steering wheel.
There is a digital instrument panel, a large touch screen, and another screen below the air vents, likely to control the air conditioning. Seats look great too. Note the Leap Motors logo-stamp on the window, indicating the LP-S01 is pretty much production ready. Debut is expected for the Guangzhou Auto Show later this month. We will be watching…
