Hongqi spied testing removable battery tech on a production car

China-based premium automaker Hongqi has begun road tests of its E001 sedan, which debuted a while ago as a futuristic concept car. The prototype is expected to debut with swappable CATL batteries and offer up to 800 km (497 miles) of range.

Based on the spy photos, the production car is similar to the concept version in terms of body style and lighting. Per CarNewsChina, the cabin is another matter: reportedly, it looks much simpler in the production version with a traditional steering wheel and other details. The publication also says that, by the look of it, the exterior design has been finalized and Hongqi is putting some final polish on the drivetrain and chassis.

The technical details remain to be revealed. According to the official press release, the prototype had dual electric motors jointly rated at 620 PS (612 hp / 456 kW) and 756 Nm (558 lb-ft) of torque. Its theoretical launch time was estimated at 3.9 seconds.

Hongqi plans to start sales of the E001 in China in November. Other regions, including Europe, are also in the waiting queue, but the company gives no estimates.