Chinese Automaker Builds Solar-Powered Scion IQ Look-Alike… Poorly
Some say that imitation is the best form of flattery, but this time around we don’t think the guys at Five Axis are flattered. Back in 2009, the creative team of designers at Five Axis produced one of the coolest concept cars yet, the widebody Scion iQ.
Obviously the final production model wasn’t quite as sporty or aggressive, but Five Axis’ concept showed just how cool the micro-subcompact car can be. What’s not so cool however is the imitation iQ that was done by a company in China called Weifang Guangsheng New Energy Co.
It seems that this company was creative enough to not copy any actual production model of a vehicle, but rather what Five Axis creatively designed for Scion to show off to the rest of the world. One quick glance at the photos though shows that none of the precision that Five Axis is known for can be seen in the Chinese knock-off. And even sillier is that this imitation iQ Concept is being billed as a solar-powered car (as the company specializes in solar systems) with a 5.4-hp electric motor. Weifang Guangsheng New Energy Co., states that the car weighs in at around 771-lbs and through the solar panels on the roof it’ll be able to travel 74-93 miles. We have our doubts.
GALLERY: Fake Chinese Five Axis Scion iQ Concept
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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