Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle prototype
A flat electric platform let Canoo imagine a compact vehicle with a lounge-like cabin.
Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle prototypes photographed in January 2021 · Randawg72 · CC BY-SA 4.0
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More than a set of wheels.
What if a car’s mechanical parts stayed below your feet? Canoo put batteries and driving hardware in a low platform, then placed a roomy passenger cabin above it. The prototype appeared in September 2019 and was described as the Lifestyle Vehicle in 2020 filings. It showed an idea being tested, not a finished production specification.
Look a little closer.
Canoo called the lower platform a “skateboard” and the cabin above it a “top hat.”
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Steering by electrical signals
The prototype used steer-by-wire: sensors and electrical commands linked the steering wheel to the road wheels. Removing the usual mechanical link gave designers more freedom to arrange the cabin.
Source: Canoo · September 2019 prototype unveiling release ↗Steel beneath the futuristic shape
Engineering partner ArcelorMittal describes advanced high-strength steels in the cabin and platform. Battery modules mounted directly into the platform also contributed to structural stiffness.
Source: ArcelorMittal · Canoo prototype engineering collaboration ↗Where these facts come from
- Canoo · September 2019 prototype unveiling release
- ArcelorMittal · Canoo prototype engineering collaboration
- Canoo · Launch press kit and vehicle specifications, archived by AllCarIndex
- Canoo/Hennessy · 2020 registration statement
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.