Our obsession with “2-in-1” combinations knows no bounds. In the 1970s, all-in-one laundry detergent and fabric softener had people wondering what they would think of next. Fifty years later, folks are squeezing mayochup onto hamburgers and lathering with 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash. Notwithstanding these consumer products, there have been a few combinations in the automotive industry that prove quite useful – and less likely to cause dandruff.

 

The Deepal E07 is taking a stab at the gray area of vehicles that blend SUV proportions with pickup truck utility. This machine can flip between its two personalities at the push of a button. Keen readers might notice similarities between this cutting-edge Chinese EV and the blobby GMC Envoy XUV from the mid-2000s. The parallels between the concepts are uncanny, and even so, Deepal is determined to dust off the idea in hopes it survives longer than the 18 months the Envoy XUV lived.