Wuling Motors’ booth at the Shanghai expo will host this cute two-seater soft-top based on the Hongguang Mini EV. The supermini will be the first electric convertible on Wuling record.
Aside from the cloth top, the Cabrio will pack a number of other features that will set it apart from the donor car shown in the video here. These include a-pillar angle, headlight graphics, and details on the bumpers and the doors. The wheels could also use a size bump from the original’s 12 inches.
Inside, there is only one seat row. The remaining space in the back may be used for a roll bar and/or an automatic roof folding mechanism. Slide-out door handles are also on our expectation list.
The Hongguang Mini EV has a digital dashboard available in monochromatic and color variants, but it looks like the droptop is getting dual 10-inch color displays instead. Gone is the air conditioner, replaced by a full-blown HVAC with sensor control, and the dual-spoke multifunctional steering wheel boasts a new color. Air vents have been reshaped and moved into the corners, an armrest appeared between the slightly refreshed seats, and door panels have likewise been redesigned.
Chinese media believe that the open-top Wuling Mini EV Cabrio will ship with the same powertrain as its donor, specifically a single electric motor rated at 27 hp (20 kW) and 85 Nm (63 lb-ft) of torque. A 9.3-kWh entry-level battery should grant it around 120 km (75 miles) of range, and a larger 13.9-kWh one should yield up to 170 km (105 miles).
The automaker claims that the car might be ready for production by the fall. The Silver Badge logo used on the concept hints that the model is meant for exports as well.