SC-01: this Chinese electric car, with the look of a Lancia Stratos, will be produced in Italy and sold throughout Europe very soon.

A Chinese electric sports car produced in Italy, designed for purists and featuring styling directly inspired by the legendary Lancia Stratos? The idea seemed almost unrealistic just a few years ago. Yet the SC-01 is about to arrive in Europe, with a clear ambition: to put driving pleasure back at the heart of electric cars.

A sportswoman born of passion, backed by Xiaomi

The SC-01 is the fruit of an atypical project. It was originally developed by Gongjiangpai, a young Chinese company founded by motorsport enthusiast Feng Xiaotong. The project soon attracted the attention of technology giant Xiaomi, which provided financial backing. First presented in 2022, the electric coupé was initially scheduled for launch in late 2023. But administrative difficulties, linked to the automaker's status in China, delayed its arrival. A collaboration with Jiangling Motors Electric Vehicle (JMEV) finally brought the project to fruition, under the name JMEV 01 for the Chinese market, where it has been sold since April 2025.

A neo-retro design reminiscent of the Lancia Stratos

Visually, the SC-01 leaves no doubt as to its intentions. With its wedge-shaped silhouette, compact proportions and contained height of just 1.17 m, the Chinese coupé fully embraces its inspiration. The connection with the Lancia Stratos is obvious. But there's also a hint of the Alfa Romeo 4C, especially in the interior. At 4.11 meters long, the SC-01 is shorter than an Alpine A110 and has a wheelbase of 2.50 meters. These compact dimensions contribute directly to its radical positioning, far removed from today's heavy, all-purpose electric sports cars.

Where the SC-01 strikes hard is on the scales. With a claimed weight of 1,365 kg, it is an exception in the world of electric vehicles. This performance is made possible by a tubular, competition-type chassis, aluminum bodywork and battery location in the rear center, just behind the seats. This technical choice not only keeps the weight down, but also considerably lowers the center of gravity. According to early feedback, this is even lower than that of a Porsche 911.

A driver's car, not a technology showcase

Contrary to the current trend towards ubiquitous screens, the SC-01 makes a radical choice. On board, there's no wall of digital screens or overloaded interface. The driver faces a single LCD instrument cluster, accompanied by physical controls, some of which are even placed on the ceiling light. The ambience is deliberately spartan: carbon bucket seats, no superfluous soundproofing, very firm suspension. Everything is designed for driving, nothing to distract. A rare philosophy, and almost counter-current, in the world of modern electric cars.

Compact supercar performance

Under the body, the SC-01 houses two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors, one on each axle. Combined power is 320 kW, or around 429 hp, with maximum torque of 560 Nm. The result: 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds. Interestingly, the driver can choose the transmission mode. In addition to all-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or even front-wheel drive is available. The 60 kWh NMC battery promises a range of up to 500 km according to the Chinese CLTC cycle. Under European WLTP conditions, a more realistic range of 430 to 450 km is likely. Recharging from 30 to 80 % takes just over half an hour.

Italian production and very limited distribution

This is one of the most surprising pieces of information in the dossier: the European version of the SC-01 will be produced in Italy. The manufacturer confirms that development of this version has been carried out independently of the Chinese model, and that prototypes are currently at the end of the validation phase. Production will be strictly limited to 1,000 units for Europe. A proportion of these cars will be reserved for sports use, while models for private customers will not be allocated on an order-by-order basis, but via a selection and invitation system. The exact production location is still unknown.

Price still unclear

In China, the SC-01 is priced at 229,800 yuan, or around 28,000 euros. But this price cannot be transposed to Europe. Initial estimates put the price at around 60,000 euros, taking into account Italian production, European homologation and the limited series. Even at this price level, the SC-01 could represent a serious alternative to future European electric sports cars from Porsche, Alpine or Lotus, whose prices are expected to be much higher and whose arrival is still a long way off.