Chinese car manufacturer Changan has previewed its next production model with the CD701 concept. Launched through the Qiyuan brand, the CD701 concept is a mix between an SUV and a pickup truck and is expected to spawn a road-going version that’ll reach the production line next year.
The concept has been unveiled at the Changan Automobile Science and Technology Ecological Conference in Chongqing, China, and may hit the market as the ‘E0.’ It is underpinned by the company’s SDA smart electric vehicle platform and takes the form of a 5-seat SUV with a sleek design and sloping roofline.
As far as EVs go, the design of the CD701’s front fascia is relatively simple with C-shaped LED daytime running lights and small headlights. It is also equipped with a display in place of a traditional grille that can show the car’s battery percentage and its range. Additional D-shaped LEDs are also located on the front bumper, similar in design to the DRLs of the VW T-Roc.
Read: Changan’s Sleek Qiyuan A07 Sedan Takes Aim At Volkswagen ID.7
While the front of the concept is quite conventional, the side profile and rear are anything but. For starters, it rolls on a set of massive wheels positioned under squared-off arches, lacks any visible door handles, has cameras instead of wing mirrors, and a roofline and rear window that stretch back to a high-riding decklid. What’s more, the SUV can morph into a pickup truck as the rear glass panel can slide upwards and over the roof.
The intriguing design elements continue at the rear with a semi-circular LED light bar and a display just like the front that displays battery information. The interior of the concept is quite typical of what we have come to expect of a modern EV nowadays, featuring a large infotainment display, a minimalistic dashboard, a head-up display, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel.
Car News China reports that the production model will hit the market with the latest Changan technologies that will include an autonomous charging function.
