Novelties

Kaiyi refreshes its supermini EV lineup to look like the Smart #1

Chinese automaker Kaiyi has presented the pre-production versions of its super-compact urban cars based on the concept showcased last summer under the Cowin bagde – the i-EA 01 and 02. AutoHome says Kaiyi will handle the production when it begins in June.

Compared to their prototypes from last year, both the three-door and the five-door supermini look markedly different on the outside. Both sport revised bumpers and lighting, while their c-pillars are masked to create the impression of a floating top.

Like before, the interiors stay hidden from view. The new sizes are also unknown, but the original concepts were 3,080 and 3,818 millimeters long.

Both the i-EA 01 and 02 will ship with a single electric motor mounted on the rear axle and producing from 48 to 68 PS (47–67 hp; 35–50 kW). There will also be hybrid variants where the combustion engine will function solely as a power generator. The CLTC driving range on a charge is estimated between 120–401 km (75–249 miles) depending on the size of the LiFePo4 battery on board.

Editor: Andrew Raspopov