Chinese automaker GAC has opened its first European HQ in Milan, Italy and celebrated the opening with a preview of its first design study, the Barchetta.
The vehicle was designed with the participation of Stephane Janin, the Head of the R&D Center who previously worked for Alpine, Dacia, Infiniti, Nissan, and Renault.
The company emphasizes that the car is a preview only with no production prospects. It has a spider body style, lacks windows or doors, and comes based on a carbon-fiber skateboard chassis housing an integrated ultra-thin traction battery. The wheels are exposed, and all parameters remain unannounced.
The upper body consists of a single solid aluminum sheet. Judging by the images, the roof panels close shut when the car is parked, and the mirrors slide out automatically when needed. The same applies to the pop-up roll bars.