It's good news, but the spec leaves so many questions.
Range is the first concern. Sure, many riders are 85 kg, or less, but in the mass market for ebikes the rule is often nearer 100 kg. With extra weight (and bulk), not to mention battery wear and moderately hilly, or flat headwind terrain, those 40 km rapidly become 20 km; that means a 10 km max range if you want to ride back with any margin of safety. A minimum of 15 to 20 km there and the same again back would be more persuasive.
With respect to the electronic gear changing, BB torque sensor and range considerations; it could well be that the system controller will effectively only provide assist when it is really needed and that is how they eek out the range. For example, only provide a controlled percentage of motor assist (by controlling the motor current) depending on current pedal torque, speed and gearing and/or automatically shift gears based on these latter factors to optimise motor current draw efficiency. So in other words, the ebike becomes more of a normal bike more often than it is a typical ebike. Given the extra weight that ebikes have to carry, this may not sit well with potential users. On the other hand, if done well enough, many may not even notice.
Hill handling and top peddling speeds may depend more on the gearing than the motor torque - which could be unfortunate since the single piece electronic hub gears will most likely limit what you get. We can only hope they get those right and match them to the rest of the drive system and bike - except that being a component system, what it gets matched to will vary widely.
A front hub motor would worry me. Again, how many inadequate cheap forks will that be fitted to? Maybe less of an issue if the torque isn't great, but then ...
I'm guessing the small battery is intended to keep the cost of the system down, overall. However, integrating system components into the bottom bracket and cranks could then be costly in terms of maintenance when worn components need to be service replaced. Will depend on how the cranks and BB are assembled, I guess.
All in all it looks like a set of components that will end up on low capability entry level ebikes. Not necessarily a bad thing and it is a start and more options for pedelec-heads like us.
All my own (wild) speculation, of course.
