Automotive

Mullen's Qiantu K50 electric sports car hits the New York Auto Show

Mullen's Qiantu K50 electric sports car hits the New York Auto Show
A Chinese-American partnership brings us this mid-level electric sports car with exotic looks.
A Chinese-American partnership brings us this mid-level electric sports car with exotic looks.
View 13 Images
Terrific looking rear end
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Terrific looking rear end
Low, wide hood
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Low, wide hood 
Carbon bodywork keeps the whole shebang lightweight
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Carbon bodywork keeps the whole shebang lightweight
19-inch rims with Pirelli P Zero hoops
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19-inch rims with Pirelli P Zero hoops
An electric motor at each axle for AWD power delivery
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An electric motor at each axle for AWD power delivery
Can't escape Audi R8 comparisons in terms of looks
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Can't escape Audi R8 comparisons in terms of looks
Carbon section down the side is the key visual highlight
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Carbon section down the side is the key visual highlight
A Chinese-American partnership brings us this mid-level electric sports car with exotic looks.
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A Chinese-American partnership brings us this mid-level electric sports car with exotic looks.
0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds
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0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds
Roof-mounted solar panels don't contribute to charging, but do circulate air in the cabin when you're parked on a hot day
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Roof-mounted solar panels don't contribute to charging, but do circulate air in the cabin when you're parked on a hot day
Price and availability TBA
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Price and availability TBA
Mullen is claiming an NEDC range over 230 miles
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Mullen is claiming an NEDC range over 230 miles
Overclocked mode puts this thing in the realm of 320 kilowatts
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Overclocked mode puts this thing in the realm of 320 kilowatts
View gallery - 13 images

Born of a Chinese-American partnership, the Qiantu K50 electric sportscar has been unveiled at the New York International Auto Show. With 320 kW (430 hp) of AWD power and a solar panel on the roof, the Qiantu looks a bit like Porsche made an Audi R8, and is designed for American roads.

The K50 rolls with an aluminum frame, housing a central spine of battery packs and chunky electric motors at the front and rear axles. Peak power varies depending on whether we're looking at the press release or the Mullen website – the latter says the two motors can combine for a peak output of 280 kW (375 hp) and 580 Nm (428 lb-ft) of torque, while today's press release speaks of an "extremely dynamic overclocking mode" that boosts things up to 320 kW (430 hp).

Whichever is the case, it'll get around alright, with 0-60 mph (0-98 km/h) sprints in the range of 4.2 seconds. And while we don't have a definitive pack size for the battery, the company is touting a 230-mile (370-km) range under NEDC testing cycles.

Mullen is claiming an NEDC range over 230 miles
Mullen is claiming an NEDC range over 230 miles

The bodywork is full carbon and proud of it, with a low, smooth hood on the front, some nice detail slots on the bumpers, and a meaty lacquered carbon cut-out section on the sides that screams Audi R8. It's a good looking car, but the proportions don't seem to hold their charm from all angles. The side profile, for example, looks pretty ordinary, while the back end looks beaut.

Overclocked mode puts this thing in the realm of 320 kilowatts
Overclocked mode puts this thing in the realm of 320 kilowatts

Brakes are by Brembo, suspension and chassis are set up by Mira, and the Qiantu's 19-inch forged aluminum rims will wear a set of Pirelli P Zero sports tires that honestly feel like a wee bit of overkill given the car's relatively modest power output. Cornering is assisted by a torque vectoring system that can brake the inside wheels as traction becomes an issue.

Inside, there's leather and Alcantara seats and a surprisingly small 6-inch infotainment screen. On the roof is a solar panel on the roof, but it's not there to charge the car – there's not enough area on a car roof to make a realistic contribution to an EV-sized battery. Instead, it's there to start automatically circulating air around your parked car once the temperature reaches 77° F (25° C), hopefully helping it be a bit cooler by the time you jump back in.

There's no word on price or availability as yet.

Check out the car in the video below.

Source: Mullen Technologies

Qiantu K50 Pure electric high-performance sports car

View gallery - 13 images
5 comments
5 comments
Grunchy
This looks so striking because they made it with such a tiny, cramped cabin. It’s the identical technique comic book artists use to make superheroes look more powerful: draw them with a tiny little head.
PhilippeHolthuizen
Saw it in the flesh in China about two weeks ago, and it's a bit of a humpback. And those side air intakes didn't make much sense, they were mostly closed. As for the cabin, it didn't actually look very cramped. But I didn't sit in it.
usugo
with those underwhelming specs, unless it is priced under 30-35k, it is not going anywhere
TomLeeM
I think that is really nice. I hope the price isn't too excessive.
ljaques
She's a beauty, but I wonder why there were no side-on shots. Just front, rear, and 45-degree side angle views.
Given those specs, this will be aimed at (and priced under) the Tesla 3. If not, they won't sell all that many.