Last year, Munich startup Sono Motors announced
plans to build its first car, the Sion, after a successful crowdfunding that
managed to raise nearly € 195,000. Now, the company has revealed the
first prototype of its electric vehicle, which is expected to enter production
in the second quarter of 2019.
There has been some changes to the Sion formula –
originally, the car was set to be offered in € 12,000 Urban and
€ 16,000 Extender models, with a range of 120 km and 250 km
respectively. Now, only the latter will be made available.
While that price has been retained, it no
longer includes the battery, which will be offered on a monthly lease or with a
one-time purchase of € 4,000. Altogether, a Sono Sion that’s actually
ready to hit the road will cost as much as € 20,000.
The design of the prototype certainly looks to be
more production-ready than the initial renders, the jelly bean-like profile
becoming boxier and more practical-looking. A prominent feature of the original
concept – 330 solar panels integrated into the polycarbonate body panels – has
been retained, and has again been claimed to add an extra 30 km of range a day
in the right conditions.
Not much has been shown of the interior, but from
what little can be seen, it appears that the Sion will feature plenty of
switchgear from the BMW i3, the most obvious of which being the climate
controls. Originally proposed as a six-seater with three seats front and rear,
Fiat Multipla/Honda FR-V-style, the Sion will now feature a regular five-seater
cabin.
The unusual green moss found on the dashboard and
door panels is part of the breSono air filtration system, which is said to
filter up to 20% of fine particles and regulate the humidity inside the car.
Other features include bidirectional charging, meaning that in addition to
being charged, the car can also be a mobile power storage device and provide
electricity, with an output of 6.6 kW.
Power comes from an 109 PS electric motor
mated to a 30 kWh lithium-ion battery and a single-speed transmission, enabling
the Sion to reach a top speed of 140 km/h.
