The Small Sports Car Company (SCC) has confirmed that it will begin importing the all-electric SC01 sports car to the UK ahead of initial deliveries in April 2027.
Said to be inspired by the Lancia Stratos, the wedgy SC01 is the result of a partnership between Chinese start-up Tianjin Gongjianpai Auto Technology (TGAT), technology firm-turned-car maker Xiaomi, and car manufacturer JMEV.
First unveiled in 2022, China’s fully electric answer to the Lotus Elise recently went on sale as the JMEV Yichi 01. When it goes on sale here, European models will be built in Italy, with production numbers limited to just 1,000 units across the continent.
The SC01 is built around a spaceframe chassis, which delivers a kerbweight of just 1,365kg. Courtesy of a twin-motor, all-wheel-drive (AWD) powertrain, the Alpine A110 Electric and Longbow Roadster rival produces 429bhp and can manage the 0-62mph run in just 2.9 seconds.
The SC01’s dual motors are powered by a 60kWh battery, which is quoted as having a 311-mile range. Note, however, that the figure was taken from the lenient Chinese CLTC efficiency cycle.
With a low centre of gravity, double-wishbone suspension, and “mid-engined sports car proportions”, SCC CEO Mark Cotton promises that the SC01 will deliver an analogue driving experience.
A former executive at BMW, Bentley, McLaren, and RML, Cotton said: “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.”
Feng Xiaotong, the car’s creator and TGAT founder, described the SC01 as a tribute to British manufacturers responsible for lightweight sports cars of yore.
“My ambition is to create the kind of sports car that enthusiasts will fall in love with,” he said. “I am myself such an enthusiast, and grew up admiring the great British pioneers who believed that driving should be about lightness, simplicity and the connection between driver and machine. The SC01 is my tribute to that philosophy.”
Demonstration and evaluation versions of the SC01 will arrive in the UK in Q4 this year, with engineering, validation, and test drives beginning shortly afterwards.
UK pricing for the SC01 has yet to be confirmed, but CarNewsChina reports that it is likely to cost around €61,000 (£53,500) in mainland Europe. Expect import taxes to add to the cost of UK-bound right-hand-drive cars.
