Detroit Electric SP:01 Shows Off New Fastback Design

Just the Facts:

• The production version of the Detroit Electric SP:01 will feature a new fastback design.
• The new look offers better aerodynamics.
• The SP:01, an electric two-seater that has faced delays, will go on sale in North America in 2015.

DETROIT — The production version of the Detroit Electric SP:01 will feature a new fastback design, the electric startup said on Monday.
The new look offers better aerodynamics.
The SP:01, an electric two-seater that has faced delays, will go on sale in North America in 2015. Pricing has not been announced.
"The final design of SP:01 incorporates signature Detroit Electric DNA, carried over from the prototype model we revealed last year," said Jerry Chung, head of design at Detroit Electric, in a statement. "Coupled with many motorsport visual cues, the new fastback design, bold face and sharp contours evoke the company's vision of pure electric performance."
Other changes include a rear spoiler and heating-and-cooling system improvements. The EV's battery packs have been clad in a protective composite casing. They make the car stiffer and "protect the batteries from punctures in the event of a crash," Detroit Electric said.
The company, which was founded in 2008 and named after an electric car company that dates back to the early 1900s, says the SP:01 will be the fastest production electric sports car. It has a top speed of 155 mph and sprints from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. The SP:01 is built on a Lotus Elise platform.
Detroit Electric has not announced the car's range.
The production-ready SP:01 bears a resemblance to the Tesla Roadster, which is no longer in production.
The SP:01 was teased in a YouTube video earlier this month.
Key competitors to the SP:01 include the 2014 BMW i8 and the 2014 Cadillac ELR.