China’s Lightweight SC01 Electric Roadster Is Heading To Europe

• A small, lightweight and affordable electric sports car will go on sale this year in Europe.
• China’s SC01 two-door roadster impressed car reviewers with its road manners and old-school feel.
• European production is set to begin this year in Italy, with just 1,000 units reserved for “select” markets.

Mazda never made an electric Miata, and the Tesla Roadster can still only be found in fantasy land. So if you’re after a small, affordable and fun electric sports car, your options are extremely limited–zero if you happen to live in the United States.

European sports car fans are about to get a very interesting new model soon, though, as China’s SC01 electric roadster is getting ready for a debut this year. The small, two-seater EV, which is backed by tech giant Xiaomi, went on sale in China last year, and it immediately got the attention of enthusiasts thanks to its light weight, precise steering and old-school vibes.

The EV is powered by two electric motors–one at the front and one at the rear–making a combined 430 horsepower (320 kilowatts). But while the power figure is nothing to write home about in an age of 1,000-hp EVs, its weight is. The SC01 tips the scales at less than 3,086 pounds (1,400 kilograms), which is very low for a battery-powered car. In fact, it’s at least 220 lbs (100 kg) lighter than a Porsche 911.

What’s more, the SC01’s dual-motor powertrain has a neat trick up its sleeve. It works as an all-wheel drive setup, but it can also be set up to drive the rear wheels only or the front wheels only. When all is said and done, the European version of the SC01, which is currently undergoing the certification process, can sprint from zero to 62 miles per hour (0-100 miles per hour) in 2.9 seconds.

The interior is extremely basic, with just the bare minimum provided to the driver and passenger. The 60-kilowatt-hour battery, supplied by CALB, enables a CLTC-rated range of 310 miles (500 km) and can be recharged from 30% to 60% in 36 minutes.

The Chinese version of the two-door EV was developed by Tianjin Gongjiangpai Auto Technology (TGAT), but it’s built by JMEV, a joint venture between Groupe Renault and Jiangling Motors Corporation Group.

The European SC01 will be built in Italy, the company said, but it’s unclear where assembly will take place. Wherever the car will be assembled, though, it’s clear that it will be a limited-run model, with just 1,000 units reserved for “select European markets,” the company said. There’s no price yet for European buyers, but if it will be anything like its Chinese counterpart, which costs around $32,000 (€28,000), it could be a hit.