GAC Aion has just unveiled the Hyper HT SUV. It is a model that looks like the brother from another mother of the Tesla Model X, but is a litlte cheaper.
The GAC Aion Hyper HT is the third model of the Hyper subbrand, all three of them launched within a single year. The crossover sports a minimalist design and the spectacular gullwing doors, similar to those of the Tesla Model X. There are lounge reclining rear seats on board, plus a flat-bottomed steering wheel in front of a digital instrument cluster.
A panoramic sunroof, a touchscreen that controls most of the functions of the car, two wireless charging pads, and a floating center console are standard. This model breathes premium but, in terms of pricing, it sits below the German or American cars in the premium segment.
Launched back in September 2022, Hyper is the new all-electric performance subbrand of Guangzhou Automobile Corporation (GAC). It has so far launched three models, the Hyper GT and the Hyper SSR, which began deliveries earlier this month on the local market. Now, the all-new HT SUV is following in the footsteps of the two sports sedans.
The carmaker unveiled the new model on its Weibo page, posting several photos and details. All four variants available at the start of sales feature a single-motor, rear-wheel layout. The range-topping version is also getting LiDAR sensors and the 800V architecture.
Photo: GAC Aion
At the opposite end, the entry-level HT SUV will sit on a 400V platform. The electric motor mounted on the rear axle brings along 241 horsepower (248 PS) and 262 lb-ft (355 Nm) of torque. This version is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph) in 6.8 seconds.
There is no info on the capacity of the battery pack for either of the four trims currently available. But the carmaker claims a range of 373 miles (600 kilometers) for the entry-level variant, according to the CLTC testing cycle. The unit charges enough for 87 miles (140 kilometers) in just ten minutes.
The other three trims come with the 800V platform and 335 horsepower (340 PS) and 317 lb-ft (430 Nm). All three of them can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph) in 5.8 seconds. The two intermediary trims can drive as far as 416 miles (670 kilometers) on a single charge. The battery draws enough energy for a trip of up to 258 miles (415 kilometers) in just 15 minutes.
The top-of-the-line Hyper HT SUV can drive up to 479 miles (770 kilometers) before it needs to be plugged in again and charges enough for 280 miles (450 kilometers) in ten minutes only. At least a dual-motor all-wheel drive version is expected to show up in the range next year. A tri-motor Hyper HT would not be out of the question either.
Data provided by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reveals that the Hyper HT is 4,935 millimeters (194.2 inches) long, 1,920 millimeters (75.55 inches) wide, and 1,700 millimeters (66.9 inches) tall, sitting on a 2,935-millimeter (115.5-inch) wheelbase.
Pre-orders will begin soon, but there is no official information about the pricing. The model will reportedly start at RMB 220,000, which equals $30,000. That is way under the price of its brother from another mother. The entry-level single-motor rear-wheel drive Tesla Model X starts at $32,890.
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