Gull-Wing Doors? On a Chinese Car? Light of ASEAN Say Yes
Image Credit: SGMW.
SAIC-GM-Wuling (what a mouthful - SGMW for short) has just dropped a concept car that's either a glimpse into the future or a wild fever dream. Unveiled at their ASEAN strategy launch in Nanning, China, the "Light of ASEAN" is making huge waves with its gull-wing doors and promises of new-energy tech. But let's not get carried away, shall we?
First off - those doors. Yes, they're the kind that swing up like a DeLorean, covering both front and rear seats. It's flashy, no doubt. But practical? That's a whole other story. Imagine trying to get in and out of that thing in a tight parking spot. Or in a rainstorm. Yeah, not so glamorous anymore.
Moving on to the design, SGMW describes it as an "X-shaped" front with elongated T-shaped lights. Sounds fancy, right? But to my eyes, it's a bit... busy. Like they tried to cram too many design elements into one small space. It's the automotive equivalent of wearing too much cologne. Way too much.
Here's where things actually do get interesting. The rear of the car has a split wing design and a center section that opens up to reveal... a robot. I kid you not. A robot. SGMW says it's an "intelligent" robot, but at this point, I think it's probably just a glorified vacuum cleaner.
Image Credit: SGMW.
Inside, SGMW is calling it a "zero-gravity dual-mode cockpit." I'm not sure what that means, but it sounds like they're trying to make it sound more like a spaceship than a car. The front seats have integrated legrests, which could be comfy, I suppose. But the rear seats are described as "sofa-style." I'm picturing something more suited to a living room than a vehicle.
Behind the oddly shaped steering wheel, there's a small instrument panel and what looks like some kind of glass material on the dashboard. It's all very futuristic, but again, I question its practicality.
Image Credit: SGMW.
SGMW's "One, Two, Three" ASEAN strategy is as bold as this wild concept car. They're aiming to build a whole new energy vehicle industry chain within the ten ASEAN countries by 2030. Ambitious? Absolutely. Feasible? We'll see. I know they can move really quickly, but the entire industry by 2030?
I gotta give it to them; SGMW has already exported over 1.07 million vehicles to more than 104 countries. That's impressive, no doubt. And they hit a milestone with their two millionth new energy vehicle rolling off the production line in August. So, they're clearly serious about electric tech. Don't get me wrong, I'm on their side - with my skeptical hat firmly on but still supporting their efforts.
Image Credit: SGMW.
But back to the Light of ASEAN. It's a concept car. That means it's not meant for production. It's a showcase of ideas, some good, some questionable. All of the wild. The gull-wing doors and the robot are attention-grabbers, for sure. But I'm more interested in the underlying tech.
Sadly, SGMW hasn't released many specifics. No dimensions, power outputs, battery capacity, price, or acceleration times. It's all a bit vague. Which makes me wonder, is this just a publicity stunt? A way to generate buzz without revealing any real substance? I'm not saying the Light of ASEAN is a complete flop. It's certainly got some intriguing elements. But I'm not holding my breath for a production version anytime soon.
Image Credit: SGMW.
So, there you have it. SGMW's Light of ASEAN concept car. A mix of futuristic design, questionable practicality, and vague promises. It's a bold move, but is it a step in the right direction? Or is it a step too far? Whatever happens next, I'm keeping my eye on SGMW. They've got the potential to be a major player in the electric vehicle market.
But for now, I'm taking this concept car with a grain of salt. Or maybe a whole shaker. After all, in the world of automotive journalism, you've got to be a bit skeptical. Even when the doors swing up like a DeLorean.
