BAIC BJEV’s sub-brand Arcfox is interested in
entering the electric SUV foray. Before going full beast-mode on the industry,
they’re testing the waters with the ECF Concept. Presented for the first time at
the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, it’s been sketched by the famed Walter de Silva.
Volkswagen Group’s former chief designer is the man responsible for some iconic
cars such as the Lamborghini Egoista, first-gen Audi R8, Alfa Romeo 147 and
156, Volkswagen Scirocco and Audi A5, to mention just a few.
De Silva’s vast experience in car design has led to
the creation of a very minimalistic-looking vehicle, with clean and continuous
lines that run across its length, merging into the body panels seamlessly. The
ECF proudly wears its backlit name in the lower part of the front and rear
bumpers, and on the C pillars. The company’s logo and the ‘Arcfox’ lettering
are also backlit at both ends, and taking the role of the traditional taillamps
is a very thin light strip.
The cockpit follows the same simple and modern
design trend. The dashboard has a black and white look, there’s a U-shaped
steering wheel with buttons on each side that control different functions, and
the gear selector is positioned in front of the armrest. Speaking of which, the
latter stretches from the front all the way to the rear individual seats, thus
separating the front and left sides of the car.
The ECF has a 2,900 mm long wheelbase,
uses an electric powertrain with more than 600 km of range, and is
equipped with Level 3 autonomous driving, which means that drivers can take
their eyes off the road, yet they need to be ready to intervene from time to
time.
The ECF also provides a first look into Arcfox’s
future design language and is thought to serve as a preview of their upcoming
electric SUV.
