While the Shanghai Auto Show has been awash with daring and dynamic EV concepts from everyone from Honda to Lincoln, the cutesy Wuling Hong Guang MINIEV Cabrio concept has already won the hearts and minds of show-goers and hacks alike. If it looks somewhat familiar, that’s because the fixed-head version shares a lot with the Dartz FreZe. The Dartz, which starts at under 10,000 Euros (US$ 12,000), is one of Europe’s most affordable EVs.
Meanwhile, the already-in-production Hong
Guang MINI EV on which this concept is based is the result of a joint
partnership between China’s automotive powerhouse, SAIC (holding 51%), the
newly EV-conscious General Motors (with a 44% stake), and Chinese
microvan-specialist Wuling (the remaining 5%).
The MINIEV’s main selling point that it
was Really cheap. Priced around US$ 4,300 — well below half of what its
Dartz European equivalent will be sold for. The microcar struck a chord with
buyers, with 15,000 units confirmed within the first 20 days of the microcar
going on sale, and a few months later, it was reported that the Hongguang
received a staggering 50,000 orders.
Riding on this success, the MINIEV Cabrio
was unveiled to the public on the first day of the Shanghai Auto Show. This
drop-top spin on the budget EV features a few other subtle design cues other
than the obvious topless treatment. It features colored door-inserts, which
sort of look like phone-case kickstands. The headlights are now some funky
LEDs, and it features some larger and presumably ride-ruining six-spoke wheels
on low-profile rubber. The roof itself is fabric and occupies the space where
you’d normally find rear seats. Integrated roll hoops protect the two front occupants’
noggins.
It’s all very thought out, and it does
make us wonder if the reports from the Chinese site Autohome that state the
MINIEV Cabrio will be produced, are right after all. Watch this small,
microcar-sized space.
