After the Geneva International Motor Show followed up their 2020 COVID-induced cancellation by axing the 2021 edition and putting the entire event up for sale, the future of the auto show looked grim. But last weekend there was a glimmer of hope as Auto China in Beijing became the first major automotive exhibition to open after the pandemic was declared.
American automakers like Ford are exhibiting alongside Chinese companies like Huawei, but some of the more interesting releases are coming from China’s smaller manufacturers, one of which has unveiled a … wait a second, is that a first-generation Corvette?
A company called Songsan Motors debuted a plug-in hybrid called the SS Dolphin. As Carscoops pointed out, not only does it appear to rip off a 1958 C1 Chevrolet Corvette, but the automaker explicitly says copying that classic car is their goal. Go ahead, take a look at their website; it’s mostly in Chinese, but the photos at the bottom (which I can hardly believe they have the rights to use) are of George Clooney in a real Corvette, Kendall Jenner in a real Corvette, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in a real Corvette … and no one in a Songsan Dolphin.
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It’s not out of the ordinary for Chinese companies to blatantly knock off designs like this, but this is particularly egregious, and also sort of like someone took one of the rideable toy versions of a Corvette and blew it back up to normal size.
While these most likely won’t find their way Stateside, for what it’s worth Carscoops noted that the power is supplied by a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, electric motor and 16 kWh battery pack. As for price, Songsan is looking to offload these retro-mobiles for ¥590,000, or about $86,500.
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