Tanghua Detroit Fish (底特律鱼)

At the 2008 Detroit Motor Show, held in January, Tanghua surprised everyone by debuting not one, but three (!) new concept cars. The most unusual of the trio? That would be the Detroit Fish (底特律鱼).

Why do I consider this one the strangest? Well, for starters, it looks like a four-seat (not four-door—there are no doors at all) version of A Piece of Cloud. But the real twist is that it’s somehow an amphibious vehicle. Yes, out of all the oddly named Tanghua cars, “Fish” turned out to be the most appropriately titled.

The design is truly bizarre. Rather than traditional doors, the Detroit Fish features five gaping holes in the body for entry and exit. The sides are raised a bit higher than on A Piece of Cloud, presumably to help keep water out—but I wouldn’t exactly trust it beyond a quiet pond.

As far as I know, no public demonstration of its amphibious abilities was ever performed. Then again, Tanghua’s founder, Mr. Li, was always more about making a splash with bold designs than showcasing practical performance. If memory serves, his own face was featured on the steering wheel, which tells you a lot.

As for the technical specs: the Detroit Fish measured 2980 mm in length, 1800 mm in width, and just 1680 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2260 mm. Like its Detroit showmates, it was powered by a 3.5 kW electric motor, offering a land range of up to 150 km. Buyers could choose between two battery options: a lead-acid version priced at $5,800, or a lithium-ion model expected to cost $9,200.

The only prototype was built.