BAIC BJEV’s sub-brand Arcfox is interested in entering the electric SUV foray. Before going full beast-mode on the industry, they’re testing the waters with the ECF Concept.
Presented for the first time at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, it’s been sketched by the famed Walter de Silva. Volkswagen Group’s former chief designer is the man responsible for some iconic cars such as the Lamborghini Egoista, first-gen Audi R8, Alfa Romeo 147 and 156, Volkswagen Scirocco and Audi A5, to mention just a few.
De Silva’s vast experience in car design has led to the creation of a very minimalistic-looking vehicle, with clean and continuous lines that run across its length, merging into the body panels seamlessly. The ECF proudly wears its backlit name in the lower part of the front and rear bumpers, and on the C pillars. The company’s logo and the ‘Arcfox’ lettering are also backlit at both ends, and taking the role of the traditional taillamps is a very thin light strip.
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The cockpit follows the same simple and modern design trend. The dashboard has a black and white look, there’s a U-shaped steering wheel with buttons on each side that control different functions, and the gear selector is positioned in front of the armrest. Speaking of which, the latter stretches from the front all the way to the rear individual seats, thus separating the front and left sides of the car.
The ECF has a 2,900 mm (114.2 in) long wheelbase, uses an electric powertrain with more than 600 km (373 miles) of range, and is equipped with Level 3 autonomous driving, which means that drivers can take their eyes off the road, yet they need to be ready to intervene from time to time.
The ECF also provides a first look into Arcfox’s future design language and is thought to serve as a preview of their upcoming electric SUV.