It revives an old idea from the 1960s.
Coupe-SUVs sacrifice space for style. That sloping roofline eats into the vehicle’s cargo hold and makes the cargo area unsuitable for carrying taller items. However, this new Chinese electric car solves those limitations with a unique solution.
Changan Autoмo·ile, China’s oldest automaker, has a new electric-only brand called Qiyuan. Now, re-images of haʋe have appeared on the website of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology showing the brand’s E07 product – an SUV with a truck.
Qiyuan E07 can act as a pickup truck thanks to the sliding rear glass. It is a small truck, roughly the length of a Ford Maʋerick. While the Blue Oʋal’s workhorse remains more utilitarian in nature, the ability to transform this EV into a pickup truck feels more like a gimmick. Still, it’s a neat idea.
It’s worth noting that this has technically been done before. Started in the 1960s, the Studebaker Wagonaire (pictured below) was a boxcar with a retractable sliding roof. Hopefully it will be done better on the Qiyuan E07 as owners of the convertible wagon had problems with a leaky roof.
Qiyuan E07 owners will not need to slide the hood forward to access cargo as there is a separate rear door that opens independently of the retractable rear section. It remains to be seen whether the cabin will be separated from the cargo section; This is not the case in this concept, so passengers will be exposed to the elements. Although a conventional truck with a canopy offers more functionality, it lacks the sleek styling that has allowed automakers to carve out a niche with these coupe-SUV.
In terms of specifications, this car machine will operate with a single engine setup that produces 338 horsepower. Choose all-wheel drive and the EV adds a 252-horsepower engine, bringing total power to 590 horsepower. The Qiyuan E07 with its distinct personality will be sold with 20 and 21 inch wheels.
Despite its impressive power, the Qiyuan E07 with its Cybertruck-esque design is unlikely to appeal to those who really need a pickup truck. It appears to be one of those “lifestyle vehicles” designed for the cool kids.
As a final note, this is how the sliding roof on the Studebaker Wagonaire works. Oh, and let’s not forget the GMC Enʋoy also has a sliding roof.
