CARS OF THE WORLD

Changan CD701 2024.

This electric car does not yet have a name, only the factory code CD701. Although the first announcement was in the summer of 2022, the debut of the conceptual version took place last spring at the Shanghai Motor Show.

Now the Changan company has shown a pre-production version: in this form, the CD701 should reach the assembly line at the beginning of 2024.

The most interesting thing about this electric car is the body design. This is not a coupe-shaped crossover, as it might seem when viewed in profile, but a pickup truck in disguise.

There is a cargo compartment at the rear, separated from the passenger compartment by a rigid partition with glass.

The stern is equipped with a folding side, and the glass roof of the compartment can be moved forward (in whole or in part).

The Tesla Cybertruck has a similar design, but the Chinese Changan CD701 is still noticeably more compact: about five meters in length instead of Tesla’s 5.9 m (other parameters have not yet been made public).

Standard wheels are 21 inches in diameter. The headlights are connected by a wide display on which various icons and inscriptions can be displayed.

The interior is made according to the latest fashion: a minimum of physical keys, rounded shapes, a projector instead of the usual instruments — and only one large central display on the front panel, turned towards the driver. Or not alone?

Fold back the passenger sun visor to reveal a second screen for the multimedia system! This has never happened before in production cars. The transmission control selector is located on the steering column.

Changan CD701 will be the first model on the new modular SDA platform, the main advantage of which will be advanced on-board electronics, namely driver assistance systems and autopilot.

The steering and braking systems are implemented “by wire”.

The chassis of the so-called cross-pickup is entirely aluminum, with air springs, the front suspension is arranged according to a double-wishbone design, and the rear is a multi-link.

It is stated that there will be a choice of versions with rear-wheel drive (245 hp) or all-wheel drive (408 hp). Other technical details will be announced closer to the start of production and sales.