The very first production-spec Detroit Electric SP:01 sports car has just rolled out of the company’s small facility in Leamington Spa in the United Kingdom.
Despite the car’s name and the firm’s initial plans, it is not produced in Detroit. Nevertheless, that hasn’t dissuaded buyers with confirmation that the very unit will be heading overseas to Detroit Electric’s very first customer.
Discussing the milestone, chairman and group chief executive of Detroit Electric Albert Lam said “We are thrilled to see our first production car roll off the line at our UK manufacturing site. Our first customer is sure to appreciate the unique experience of driving the SP:01 as we’ve worked hard to develop technologies that ensure it is one of the most rewarding pure electric sports cars to drive.
“Seeing our vision realised is hugely satisfying and we can now focus on fulfilling a growing bank of orders. As our production process builds momentum, we look forward to providing this unique electric sports car to our customers all over the world,” Lam said.
Two variants of the SP:01 are being produced; the Pure and Performance models. The Detroit Electric SP:01 Pure is powered by an electric motor and battery pack offering up 204 hp and 207 lb-ft of instantly available torque. By comparison, the SP:01 Performance outputs 286 hp thanks to some powertrain upgrades. It will therefore accelerate to 100 km/h in a mere 3.9 seconds and reach a 250 km/h top speed.
