Chinese automaker FAW Group and U.S. startup Silk EV unveiled the Hongqi S9 electric hypercar at the Shanghai auto show.
The car was designed by Volkswagen Group's former styling chief, Walter de Silva, who is the joint venture's design boss.
Hypercar styled by VW's former design boss de Silva unveiled by FAW, U.S. startup
The Hongqi S9 EV made its debut at the Shanghai auto show
The S9's bodywork is red -- the color of FAW's Hongqi brand and Italian racecars.
The S9 was designed by Volkswagen Group's former styling chief Walter De Silva. It is expected to go into production in Italy in 2023.
FAW and Silk EV plan to invest up to 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) to design, develop and build a range of high-performance electric cars in Italy and China.
Besides the S9, three other models are planned -- the S7, S5 and S3.
The joint venture will build cars in a new production center in northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, which is also called the "Motor Valley" because Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and Ducati are based in this area between Modena and Bologna.
The EVs will also be built in the Chinese province of Changchun, where FAW's headquarters are located.
The S9 will have its European debut at the Munich IAA in September.
