Chinese Company Unveils $48,000 ‘Tesla Model S’ Knockoff

According to Car News China, Youxia Motors will begin production on the Youxia X late next year. The company anticipates the vehicle to cost from $32,000 to $48,000. Youxia Motors plans to see their first deliveries in early 2017, which would supersede the release date of the Tesla Model 3.

While Youxia Motors is still only a startup manufacturer, they are receiving serious hype with the announcement of their first production car.

The design inspiration for the Electric X is most notably taken from the Tesla Model S, but other cues allude to vehicles from Lexus, Audi, Maserati and of course the artificially intelligent 1980s Firebird Trans Am better known as KITT from “Knight Rider.”

“Knight Rider’s” Firebird Trans Am was iconically known for it’s red light-up grille, which designer Huang Xiuyuan incorporated into the Youxia X. Xiuyuan was a major fan of the 1980s television series and revealed that the Youxia X will be operating on an Android 5.1-based system called KITT OS.

The Youxia X is said to go from zero to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds running on a 348-horsepower electric motor. The vehicle will come with three battery options — 40 kWh, 60 kWh or 85 kWh — the largest of which is estimated to reach 167 miles on a full charge.

The new vehicle will also provide drivers the option of custom engine sounds. Car News China reported that available sounds include the Ferrari 488 GTB and the Jaguar F-Type.

While the new vehicle sounds exhilarating in theory, it is unclear if the Electric X will truly ever see production. For now, car enthusiasts and Hasselhoff fans alike wait in anticipation for the new generation KITT.