Carbon and volts: what will surprise new hybrids and electric cars from China
Chinese models of Aion and Hyptec cars have not yet been officially presented on the Russian market, but they may appear in our country very soon. And not as separate brands, but as new models of the GAC brand. The Izvestia correspondent got acquainted with potential novelties for the Russian market at an improvised training ground in Guangzhou.
Electric catapult
Aluminum chassis, carbon body, three electric motors with a total capacity of 1,225 hp, transmitting an incredible 12 thousand tons to all four wheels. Hm of torque, an incredible 1.9 sec. acceleration to 100 km/h. This is the first mass-produced Chinese hypercar, the Hyptec SSR, which began production in the fall of 2023 at the GAC plant in Guangzhou. For its assembly (many operations are performed manually), a separate line was created at the enterprise, from which only about 500 sports cars come off in a year.
The SSR is devoid of the usual door handles: an inconspicuous button is located on the central pillar, after pressing which the door, equipped with an electric drive, obligingly moves away from the body and rises up. Despite the fact that the doorway itself is wide enough, getting into the car requires some skill. Racing bucket seats, covered with leather, are spread out almost on the ground and have rigid side support cushions. We put one foot on the floor of the car, leaning with one hand on the central tunnel of the sports car, and with the other holding onto the roof, squeeze into the cockpit and then pull in the supporting leg.
The Hyptec SSR salon is an example of minimalism. In the center of the front panel, there is an impressive LCD display, traditional for Chinese automakers, which controls all the functions of the car. The sports car is devoid of even the usual steering wheel switches — turn signals, headlights and wipers are activated by pressing touch keys on the steering wheel. The steering wheel itself, with its rectangular shape, resembles the steering wheel of an airplane.
Despite all the persuasions, the journalists were not allowed to drive the electric sports car — the car was driven by a GAC tester. I had to settle for the "racing taxi" mode in the only passenger seat.
Gas to the floor! And ... the sensations of Hyptec SSR acceleration are difficult to compare with anything. The emotions from previous test drives of sports cars with "classic" internal combustion engines faded before the emotions presented by the Chinese hypercar. It was somewhat like a "catapult slingshot" in an amusement park, when a capsule attached to stretched cables is abruptly released into free flight. Only such a capsule takes off upward, and the SSR takes off parallel to the ground. The acceleration takes my breath away, my vision goes dark, and the blood rushes to the back of my neck. Moreover, on an electric sports car, unlike cars with an internal combustion engine, acceleration is not interrupted by a gear change in the transmission — after all, there is neither the transmission itself nor the gears here. Only a battery and three electric motors.
The metal bump protecting the test drive area is inexorably approaching. The "pilot" hits the brake pedal, and the body hangs on the seat belts. The Hyptec SSR slows down just as effectively as it accelerates.
GAC representatives are evasive when asked about official deliveries of this car to Russia. They say that the issue has not yet been definitively resolved, it is necessary to analyze the market prospects of this model. However, SSR delivered to our country through alternative channels can be bought now, having 18-20 million rubles in your pocket.
Gently, but gently
The prospects of other Aion and Hyptec models in our country are clearer. According to Lu Weicong, Deputy president of GAC International, the company is considering the possibility of introducing its sub-brands to the Russian market.
"We have a strategy for introducing new brands and models to the Russian market, such as Aion and Hyptec,— said the top manager of the Chinese company.
One of the models that is expected to appear at Russian GAC dealers is the Hyptec HL crossover. It can be either purely electric or hybrid. Moreover, if the "electric train" in the Chinese market is offered with both full and rear—wheel drive, then the hybrid is only rear-wheel drive. This is exactly the version that the organizers presented for a small trial trip. It is equipped with a hybrid power plant (1.5-liter gasoline engine and electric motor) with a total capacity of 340 hp. The crossover accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds.
Hyptec HL salon is a kingdom of leather, suede and soft plastic. According to the tradition adopted by Chinese automakers, the control of almost all functions is embedded in the "TV" of the multimedia system. There are two separate seats with electric controls in the back. The armrests have personal LCD displays with virtual climate control keys and a number of other functions. Due to the three-meter wheelbase, rear passengers will not have to complain about the lack of free space.
The car was pleased with the soft suspension, which successfully "swallowed" artificial bumps on the test route laid out on an improvised training ground. The price for this was the decent rolls of the car when maneuvering.
Another potential novelty of the Russian market, the hybrid GAC S9, behaved approximately the same way in similar conditions. It is powered by a one-and-a—half-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 160 hp and two electric motors: a 232-horsepower engine is located on the rear axle of the car, and a 109-horsepower engine is located on the front. The crossover's power reserve is 1.2 thousand km.
The interior of the S9 is also typical for modern Chinese cars: a minimum of physical keys and a huge multimedia display. The car is offered in five- and seven-seat versions.
Electric maneuvers
Another Hyptec model, the appearance of which in Russia was announced by the GAC leadership, is the HT electric sports crossover. It is equipped with an electric motor with 340 hp, which accelerates the car to 100 km/ h in 6.2 seconds.
The main feature of the car is the upward—rising rear doors. But they are only available in the top version: on simpler configurations, conventional swing doors are installed. During a small test drive, the Hyptec HT was pleased with its good dynamics and comfort - the crossover overcame improvised speed bumps without excessive shaking.
Judging by the statements of GAC representatives, the Aion V electric crossover may officially appear in Russia. It is equipped with an electric motor with a capacity of 204 hp and is capable of driving up to 580 km on a fully charged battery.
The organizers suggested evaluating the handling and maneuverability of this car by driving a "snake" between the cones. The Aion V coped with this task quite successfully. The crossover obediently followed the set trajectory even at a fairly high speed. And due to the low center of gravity (the battery is located under the floor), the car did not bother with excessive rolls.
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