GM’s Wuling Shows Adorable Affordable EV Convertible

• Just 17 hp, but 100 percent cool

• Based on Wuling JV’s best-selling EV

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General Motors China’s joint venture with Wuling is about to reveal the latest champion for adorable electric vehicles. Taking the crown is the Wuling Hongguang MiniEV Cabrio, which takes an already extremely cute city car EV and then cuts the top off and gives it a pair of just wonderful roll hoops.

Introduced last year, the fixed-top Hongguang MiniEV is one of the hottest-selling EVs in China. It’s a product of SAIC-GM-Wuling, and it costs the equivalent of a bit more than US $4,000. Since this is a concept (via Autoblog), the car makes more changes than just a removed roof.

Starting with the front and rear lights being replaced by LEDs that look almost cartoonish, the brand has also filled in much of the formerly black space in the bumpers and doors with contrasting trim. It also has massive (for the size) wheels. A digital dash and infotainment touchscreen are paired inside, and there is a multi-function steering wheel. The standard Hongguang somehow fits a second-row seat into the tiny cabin, but this concept drops it to make room for the folding top.

If you’re wondering about the model for here, it offers a 9.3 kWh battery with a 121 km range or a 13.9 kWh battery for 172 km. Top speed is claimed at 100 km/h, but this is a 17.4 hp electric motor (and you know if there’s a decimal in the hp figure that it’s not going to be quick) so would be basically a golf cart in North America.

Is the joint venture planning production? Probably not, though on the other hand when it’s already their best-selling EV, enough interest could end up getting this one built.