Rare Car Archive

Makes › Detroit Electric United States › SP:01 · Rare production

Detroit Electric
SP:01

Electric sports car limited to 999

IDENTIFICATION CARD · DETROIT ELECTRIC SP:01
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
?ProductionNot yet verified
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
Not yet verified
Years
Not yet verified
Engine
AC asynchronous electric motor (mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive)
Power
150 kW / 204 PSFactory: 150 kW
Top speed
249 km/hFactory: 249 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The SP:01 was presented as the first commercial product of the revived Detroit Electric brand and as the fastest pure-electric production car of its time. It used a mid-mounted electric motor, a bonded aluminium tub and carbon-fibre bodywork, which made it a notable small-maker electric sports car.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed Production figure not yet verified.
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

No production figures recorded yet.

History

Detroit Electric was brought back by a group of former Lotus Engineering executives. The SP:01 was revealed in 2013 with a stated plan for 999 cars, but the Detroit News reported in 2013 that the company had not yet finalised a plant.

In 2017 a joint venture with China's Far East Smarter Energy Group was reported, with volume production of the SP:01 planned to start later that year in Leamington Spa. In November 2021 EV Electra acquired a majority stake in the company.

The cached sources end at planned production. None of them confirms the start of series deliveries or the final number built.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard SP:01.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyAC asynchronous electric motor (mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive)1
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutNot yet verified
DisplacementNot yet verified
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 150 kW / 204 PSFactory: 150 kW1Rating: manufacturerSame archived page text says 200bhp; Green Car Congress gives 150 kW (201 bhp); Auto Express gives 282bhp. Conflicting; kW spec-table figure used.
Power atNot yet verified
Torque 225 NmFactory: 225 Nm1Auto Express gives 280 Nm for the same motor.

Transmission & drivetrain

Gearbox4-speed (optional 5th gear) or 2-speed automatic1
GearsNot yet verified
Driven wheelsrear1

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisBonded aluminium tub1
Front suspensionFully independent double wishbone with coaxial coil springs and gas dampers1
Rear suspensionFully independent double wishbone with coaxial coil springs and gas dampers1
BrakesAP Racing twin-piston front calipers; Brembo single-piston sliding rear calipers1
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionCarbon fibre and composite body panels1
Wheelbase 2,300 mmFactory: 2,300 mm1
Length 3,880 mmFactory: 3,880 mm1
Width 1,751 mmFactory: 1,751 mm1
Height 1,117 mmFactory: 1,117 mm1
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weight 1,090 kgFactory: 1,090 kg1Spec table says only 'Weight'; kerb or dry basis not stated. Green Car Congress gives 1,068 kg and Auto Express 1070 kg.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 249 km/hFactory: 249 km/h1Same figure given as 155 mph.
0–100 km/h 3.7 s1
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Genuine SP:01 cars use a bonded aluminium tub with carbon-fibre body panels and a fastback rear with a rear wing and diffuser. The spec sheet lists 16-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels, a 3880 mm length and an 8.4-inch touchscreen cabin on a Lotus Elise-based platform. Check the chassis against these before accepting a claimed SP:01.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    SP:01 Electric Car | Specifications Level A Detroit Electric (archived manufacturer website) · 2016-03-14
    • Type: AC Asynchronous (electric motor drive system) (Features & Specs)
    • Max power: 150 kW (Features & Specs)
    • Max torque: 225 Nm (Features & Specs)
    • Option 1: 4 speed; Option 2: optional 5th gear; Option 3: 2 speed auto (Features & Specs)
    • The rear-wheel-drive SP:01 features a compact, mid-mounted 200bhp electric motor
    • Structure: bonded aluminium tub (Features & Specs)
    • Front/rear: Fully independent double wishbone (Features & Specs)
    • Front: AP Racing twin-piston front calipers; Rear: Brembo single-piston sliding rear-calipers (Features & Specs)
    • Material: Carbon fibre, composite (Features & Specs)
    • Wheelbase: 2300mm (Features & Specs)
    • Overall length: 3880mm (Features & Specs)
    • Overall width: 1751mm (Features & Specs)
    • Height: 1117mm (Features & Specs)
    • Weight: 1090kg (Features & Specs)
    • Top speed: 155mph, 249km/h (Features & Specs)
    • 0-100 km/h: 3.7 secs (Features & Specs)
    Accessed 2026-11-13

Keep exploring

More from Detroit Electric

This is the only Detroit Electric documented so far.

See all 1 car by Detroit Electric →

United States More from United States

141 other makes from United StatesAC PropulsionAcuraAllstateAMCAmerican LaFranceAmerican MotorsAmerican UnderslungApteraArmstrongArnoltAuburnBaldwin-MotionBantamBarris KustomsBendixBerger ChevroletBill ThomasBollingerBremerBuckeyeBuffumBuickCadillacCallawayCastleCheckerChevroletChristieChryslerClenetCodaColumbiaConsulierCordCunninghamCzingerDana ChevroletDean JeffriesDeSotoDick HarrellAll makes →