New electric SC01 sports car is inbound

Lighter than an Alpine A290, 435hp, and a 'driver-focused philosophy' - might this be the Chinese EV for PH?

By Matt Bird / Wednesday, 29 July 2026 / Loading comments

Barely a day passes in 2026 without a new electric car from China. Most are as interesting as compulsory data privacy training, but glimmers of hope are emerging in the form of cars like the Denza Z Racing. That being said, the market for a 1,600hp, £175k EV is going to be small; hoping to court broader appeal is this, the SC01. Built in China and destined to be marketed here by the Small Sports Car Company, the SC01 has been ‘inspired by the lightweight philosophy pioneered by generations of British motorsport innovators.’

That’s not just light by EV standards, either, as the claimed kerbweight is said to be 1,365kg - or just the sort of figure Alpine is aiming at for its electric A110. And one Porsche would be thrilled to get for its 718 EVs. An MG Cyberster, a different prospect to the SC01 but the only real battery-powered Chinese sports car so far, is from 1,885kg.

We're told this will be a dual motor, all-wheel drive offering at launch, with 435hp meaning 0-62mph in less than three seconds. Decent range, too: 500km, or 311 miles, on the Chinese CLTC test, which tends to yield lower forecasts than WLTP. There’s no word on battery size or charging for the moment (somewhat breathless coverage elsewhere suggests we're looking at 60kWh), though it could be argued that a headlin-grabbing DC rate isn’t so important for a car that’ll likely be driven to home from home. It’s hardly going to be slogging up and down motorways.

According to the Small Sports Car Company’s release, the SC01 will boast double wishbone suspension, a steel spaceframe chassis and a ‘driver-focused philosophy’. Nothing that hasn't been claimed a dozen times before for two-door coupes, if nice to hear when it comes to the electric era and so many attempted wheel reinventions. Sometimes the old ways are still the best, even with a new power source.

Small Sports Car Company CEO, Mark Cotton, added: “The SC01 is a back-to-basics driver’s car for the electrified generation with the promise to reignite everything enthusiasts love about driving. Less mass, more drive, and no driver interference systems – the SC01 is compact, lightweight and engineered around driving enjoyment – rather than technology for technology’s sake. Its lightweight chassis, carefully tuned suspension and direct steering deliver a pure connection between driver, machine and road.”

So they’re saying all the right things, and the SC01 isn’t some pie-in-the-sky vision, either: apparently the first prototypes will be in the UK for testing before the end of the year, with right-hand-drive deliveries from April. Which, as your dentist will tell you, isn’t actually that many months away. Price and spec are set to follow in due course. Stay tuned…