China’s Qiantu Motors has teamed up with
California’s Mullen Technologies to announce plans to begin building in the K50
sports car in the United States. In a press release first spotted by Automotive News, the two
companies revealed their intention to homologate the K50 to meet US standards
and then begin selling the car in North America. A launch is scheduled for 2020
and, if everything goes according to plan, the K50 will be one of the few
electric coupes on the market.
Little is known about the US-spec model, but Mullen
said the it will have an aluminum frame, “carbon fiber body closures” and an
electric powertrain that produces 402 hp. That isn’t much to
go on, but the Chinese-spec model has a 78 kWh battery pack which powers two
electric motors that apparently have a combined maximum output of 429 hp and 680 Nm of torque. This enables the car to
accelerate from 0-100 km/h in less than 4.6 seconds and hit a top
speed of 200 km/h. Drivers an also expect to travel approximately 380 km on a single charge.
Besides the sporty powertrain, the K50 features LED
lighting units, frameless windows and 19-inch forged aluminum wheels. The model
also boasts a small solar panel on its roof. The Chinese model comes nicely
equipped with heated / ventilated leather and suede sports seats, a heated
leather steering wheel and an automatic climate control system. Drivers will
also find a 10.1-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch infotainment
system with GPS navigation and voice recognition technology. Other niceties
include 4G and WiFi connectivity, a push-button ignition and a six-speed audio
system with a subwoofer.
There’s no word on US pricing, but the K50 starts at
¥ 754,300 in China which is equivalent to US$ 109,363. However, we should learn
more about the US-spec model in the future as Mullen says it will begin
accepting a “limited number of reservations” for the car next year.
