Chinese carmaker Changan has revealed a wild ‘coupe SUV’ concept car that can transform into a ute with the push of a button, and it’s seemingly production-ready.
The Changan Qiyuan CD701, which is for now an internal codename, is set to go into mass production in 2024 according to CarNewsChina.
It could be called the E0 and will likely only be offered in the Chinese domestic market.
This five-seat electric SUV/ute is underpinned by the company’s SDA electric vehicle (EV) architecture. Changan hasn’t detailed any information regarding its electric motor and battery setup.
The CD701 concept has a glass roof panel that slides up to create an opening that’s similar to a ute’s tub. This moving roof panel is very similar to the likes of the GMC Envoy XUV from the early 2000s, as well as the recently revealed Audi Activesphere concept.
It’s unclear how much rear storage space this electric concept car offers, however the sloping roofline would likely prove an impediment. A video uploaded to the company’s Weibo account shows people using the open rear space for camping and tailgating.
At the front there are C-shaped LED headlights, as well as a light bar that can display certain messages including the vehicle’s battery percentage.
There’s also a light bar on the rear of the car that can display the same types of information.
The Changan Qiyuan CD701 measures in at 5000mm long, 1970mm wide, and 1630mm tall, with a 3100mm wheelbase. This is roughly the same size as the BMW X6 coupe SUV.
Inside, this electric concept car has a large central infotainment touchscreen, head-up display, as well as a steering wheel that has a flat top instead of the typical flat bottom.
CarNewsChina reports the production version of the CD701 concept will support features including automatic searching for charging stations, as well as autonomous charging.
Does Changan’s SUV/ute chimera appeal to you? Let us know in the comments below.