Yes folks it is totally true, this is the Huawei Seres SF5 and no it isn’t a bad dream. And yes we can see hints of the Porsche Macan. And no we can not explain the odd rear c-pillar kink. Twenty years ago China was a relatively backward impoverished nation. It has gone from rags to industrial riches in tech and big industry. As an abstract comparison, for the last 20 years, America has fought a losing battle in Afghanistan. A war waged for the benefit and profiteering of the military-industrial complex. And Flint Michigan still has no access to clean water. Who is the more impoverished? America or China?

Ironically the SF5 is a joint venture with a mysteriously funded start-up Slican Valley-based car company Seres. That being so, as a direct comparison, Land Rover is still taking its sweet merry time to join the electrified/pure EV ride-share. How embarrassing is that for the so-called superior British car industry? The Seres SF5 is a reminder that no matter how much the motoring media manufacturers consent for car industry executives a mobile phone company can do a better job than a legacy car manufacturer when it comes to next-generation electric/electrified cars.

We’re not saying the Seres SF5 will be brilliant. Indeed it is powered by a dodgy sounding 1.5-litre gasoline engine. In addition, two electric motors combine to yield a total system power of 550hp. And despite looking like something Homer Simpson would design, the SF5 is quite nippy, offering a 0-62mph time of 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 99mph. Huawei claims the plug-in hybrid will offer up 112-miles of electric range. And with all systems fully fuelled and charged a range of 621 miles is more than possible.

The interior borrows the minimalist formula adopted by Tesla. From the driver’s perspective it is a steering wheel, giant touchscreen, Huawei developed UI of course. The China-only Seres SF5 will be offered in 2WD and RWD model trims with prices starting from $33k.