Detroit Electric Produces its first SP:01

Detroit Electric SP:01 (Credit: © Detroit Electric)

Many people, myself included, gave the restarted Detroit Electric no hope of actually producing its SP:01 electric sports car. Well, it has officially proved us wrong, as the automaker has just rolled the first SP:01 off its assembly line in Leamington Spa, England.

Honestly, it had been so long since I last heard about the brand, I had assumed it fizzled out, but it apparently has kept its promise to deliver this potent Lotus Elise-based sports car. Unfortunately, Detroit Electric did not announce the starting price for the SP:01, nor did it reveal when it will go up for sale. What it did reveal is that the model will start in Asia and Europe, and make the move to the U.S. later.

For those who have forgotten just how incredible the SP:01 is on paper, here’s a brief reminder. It features a 285-horsepower electric motor that mates to a six-speed manual transmission. This setup gets the stylish EV to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and up to a top speed of 155 mph. Detroit Electric has not announced the range of the SP:01, but I would guess that it has to be around 200 miles. It does mention that the SP:01’s battery pack is the most energy dense in the world at 140 Wh per kg.

The Sp:01 also comes with some pretty neat technology, like its 360-Powerback, which not only allows current to run into the car, but it also allows it to discharge to power your home. What’s more, this new EV sports car also features an infotainment system dubbed the Smartphone Application Managed Infotainment (SAMI) that is Android Auto compatible, making operating your smartphone safe. SAMI can also locate charging stations and pre-book charging times.

Owners can also control SAMI via GSM. This allows them to turn on the climate control system, check charging status, and more, from a distance.

More on the SP:01 will come at a later date, so stay tuned for more info.