The new Chinese car that looks like a Tesla Cybertruck for thousands less
As car designs seem to get increasingly bold, one of the most striking-looking models currently in production is the Tesla Cybertruck.The Elon Musk-owned company's first pickup truck offers a stainless steel body with sharp, flat angles, more closely resembling a space shuttle from a 1980s video game than a dual-cab pickup truck.However, whilst an expensive price tag and the huge payload have put many drivers off the Cybertruck and prevented it from selling in the UK, drivers could soon get a Chinese model that has clearly taken a lot of inspiration from the American model.The Dongfeng E-Truck is a concept model that was first showcased at the Beijing Motor Show in May 2024 that is obviously following in the Cybertruck's footsteps.Whilst the company did not state any plans to put the E-Truck into production, the Chinese car would almost certainly cost substantially less than the $60,990 (£48,445) price of an entry-level rear-wheel-drive Tesla.Compared to the original, the Dongfeng E-Truck shares a number of styling features, including the sharp edge that wraps around the front end, carefully sculpted wheel trims, and light bars on the front and rear.However, the Chinese truck has a few more curves than the Tesla, which are particularly noticeable on the doors and edges of the bumpers. This could help to make the E-Truck easier to produce and safer for pedestrians in the event of an accident.Rather than the electronically-sliding cover that hides the bed on the Cybertruck, the Dongfeng features a more conventional lift-up tailgate, with the ability to add a small tent in order to maximise space, perhaps for camping trips in the countryside.One of the most unique features of the Dongfeng is the LED light bars, located on the front and rear of the vehicle. In addition to providing lights, these can also be customised to display messages, with the model at the motor show stating 'Hello, Beijing' and showing a cartoon-esque image of the car.Inside, the Chinese model also features a huge touchscreen that spans the entire width of the bonnet, wrapping around to the edges in order to provide plenty of space to control essential functions like lights and wipers, along with functions like the sat nav and radio.Other features on the Dongfeng E-Truck include a small yet useful 'frunk', a rectangular steering wheel, and back-hinged rear doors to create a particularly wide loading space.Whilst it is unlikely that drivers in the UK will ever be able to get behind the wheel of the Chinese Cybertruck, motorists could soon buy a Dongfeng car in Europe.The company has already introduced one model, the Dongfeng Nammi Box, in Switzerland. This five-door electric hatchback rivals models like the Citroen e-C3 with a launch price of CHF 21,990 (£19,615).Based on the brand's S3 platform, Nammi Box can cover a range of nearly 200 miles per charge and offers several interesting features, including a 12-inch touchscreen and diamond-stitched white leather seats that can be fully reclined to make a bed.
Comments (0)