The Changan CD701: When an SUV Has Identity Crisis and Becomes a Pickup
China - the country where the impossible becomes possible, and where, apparently, a car can't decide if it wants to be an SUV or a pickup. Enter the Changan CD701 Concept. This little gem from the land of the Great Wall is redefining identity issues – for vehicles.
Launched by the Qiyuan brand – because, why not? – the CD701 is a bold fusion of an SUV and a pickup truck. And, hold onto your knickers, it's expected to hit the production line next year. That’s right, world, a transforming car is coming our way. No word on if it speaks Optimus Prime's language, though.
The vehicle got its big debut in Chongqing, China. It was meant to be called Zhuge (?!?) but the word out on the street is that it’ll be called ‘E0’ instead. (What happened to E1, you ask? Maybe it's busy being a minivan or a jet.) For now it is codenamed CD701 - it stands on the company's proprietary electric platform, sporting a 5-seat layout, sleek design, and that roofline that just can't seem to make up its mind.
Now, as far as electric vehicle designs go, the CD701 plays it safe with the face. C-shaped LED running lights, tiny headlights, and a cheeky little display where the old-timey grille used to be. This display shows off the battery percentage and range – because it's 2023, and we need to know if we’re about to be stranded on the side of the road. The D-shaped LEDs up front? Admittedly, a bit VW T-Roc-ish, but let's not split hairs.
Things get wacky when we venture to the sides. Massive wheels that look ready for a monster truck rally. Missing door handles (maybe they're with E1?). Cameras in place of wing mirrors – because who needs to actually "see" things? And the pièce de résistance: a rear glass panel that slides up and over the roof, turning our quirky SUV into a bonafide pickup.
Inside, it's every EV stereotype in the book: huge infotainment display, minimalist dashboard, a head-up display, and a steering wheel that’s apparently trying to be a spaceship control. Nothing too shocking, unless you count the name-changing shenanigans from "Zhuge" to "E0." Branding’s a fickle thing, isn’t it?
Specs-wise, this behemoth measures a whopping 5,000/1,970/1,630mm, with a 3,100 mm wheelbase. And let’s talk about that “brain.” Changan's homegrown tech can find charging stations, charge autonomously, and hold voice chats. Voice chats! Maybe it can tell you why it couldn’t stick with Zhuge.
But the cherry on top? "Vehicle satellite communication." This car is apparently channeling its inner satellite dish, promising global coverage and omnipresent internet connectivity. So, if you ever feel lonely on a desert road, your car's always there to chat.
Changan's sales skyrocketed by 11.43% this year, with their new energy vehicles leaping a staggering 92.9%. With 10 new cars in the Qiyuan pipeline by 2025 and grand plans of selling 5 million vehicles by 2030, this Chinese automaker is surely one to watch.
If you ever wanted a vehicle that was more indecisive than your grandmother choosing a restaurant, the Changan CD701 is your best bet. SUV by day, pickup by evening. Chin up, old gasoline-powered cars. Electric is here, and it's... different.
Yours truly,
Captain Electro
