BYD, the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) producer, has thrown down the gauntlet with the audacious Super 9 concept car. Unveiled under its premium Fang Cheng Bao brand, the Super 9 is a roofless, windscreenless electric supercar that screams about China’s intent to dominate not just the mass EV market, but the high-performance segment as well.
This move shouldn’t come as a surprise. BYD isn’t just another automaker. It’s an industrial powerhouse with a proven track record. Back in 2010, it impressed the world with its supercapacitor buses that silently navigated the massive Shanghai World Expo. Fast forward to today, BYD churns out a significant chunk of the world’s EVs, outpacing giants like Tesla and Volkswagen.
China, with its massive population and burgeoning car culture, presents a unique opportunity for BYD. It’s not just building EVs; it’s building them at scale for a domestic market hungry for new options. This, coupled with BYD’s existing experience in electric buses and monorails, positions them perfectly to become a global leader in electric mobility, across all segments.
The Super 9 concept itself is a head-turner. Imagine a two-seater electric beast with dramatic scissor doors, a fighter-jet style cockpit separated by a central bodywork strip, and integrated carbon fiber seats. The steering wheel looks ripped straight out of a Formula One car or a cutting-edge video game, flanked by buttons and controls on both sides and the center console.
But the most striking feature, by far, is the complete absence of a roof and windscreen. BYD throws caution to the wind (literally) with this design, offering drivers and passengers an unfiltered, exhilarating experience of speed. A tiny glass bump in front of each seat serves as a minimal nod to wind deflection, similar to the McLaren Elva and Aston Martin V12 Speedster.
While the roofless design isn’t groundbreaking, the Super 9’s execution is undeniably bold. It’s a statement piece from BYD, showcasing their design prowess and ambition. Whether the Super 9 makes it to production in its current form remains to be seen. However, one thing’s for sure: BYD is signaling its intent to be a major player in the high-performance EV market, and the future of electric supercars is looking very bright, and very Chinese.