HiPhi A is a 960kW electric powerhouse

CHINESE electric vehicle manufacturer HiPhi has this week unveiled its spectacular ‘A’ hypercar at the company’s Shanghai headquarters ahead of the Guangzhou Auto Show which kicks off this weekend.

To be produced in limited numbers only, the HiPhi A is scheduled to commence production in the first quarter of 2025, the vehicle the result of a collaboration between HiPhi and Wesail New Energy Automotive, sharing some of the latter’s Apollo supercar elements.

“Current trends will always continue to evolve and change with the advancement of technology and the passage of time, while classic and refined luxury has an enduring appeal,” said HiPhi founder, chairman and chief executive officer, David Ding.

“From the internal combustion engine era to the new era of intelligent electric mobility, the top hypercars should represent the pinnacle of innovative technology while still paying tribute to the classics, showcasing the transformative nature as a way to look toward the future.”

Indeed, the four-seat, four-door HiPhi A’s cutting-edge styling, low-slung stance and high-tech cabin give owners not only an impactful statement of futuristic styling, but one that delivers an impressive turn of speed.

HiPhi quotes “extreme performance” figures for the ‘A’ with a 0-100km/ h acceleration time of “just over two seconds” and a targeted top speed of “almost 300km/h”.

The Shanghai-based company says the ‘A’ will be the first vehicle in the range to feature its own, in-house developed high-performance powertrain, both battery pack and motors designed and engineered from a clean sheet design. The 800-volt platform combines a single motor up front and dual motors at the rear to provide an impressive 960kW output figure.

HiPhi says its electric motors adopt an industry-leading, ultra-high-speed carbon-fibre rotor design matched with oil cooling and magnetic cylinder coil direct-cooling technology. The combination offers motor speeds as high as 22,000rpm and “ultra-long-time high power output of more than 30 minutes”.

Despite the performance on tap, the units are said to be lightweight, compact, ultra-quiet and upgradable, hinting that even more power is available down the track.

“The combination of HiPhi’s luxury product concept, first-class development and industrial capabilities with Wesail New Energy Automotive’s Apollo supercar elements, combined with the technical expertise and innovation from Shanghai Tech University, makes the HiPhi A what it is – a true work of art for this new era,” added Mr Ding.

The battery pack feeding the three motors of the ‘A’ is equally innovative, able to discharge 1.5 megawatts at its peak. The pack’s bottom shield is said to be constructed of bulletproof carbon-fibre complemented by a fireproof top cover, again constructed from carbon-fibre.

The battery is controlled via Cloud-based technology to offer “both performance and safety”, says HiPhi.

Elsewhere the ‘A’ makes use of aircraft-grade TC4 titanium alloy, aluminium alloys, nano-ceramics and other space-age materials – many of which are 3D printed to form the vehicle’s various components.

Other technological highlights of the HiPhi A include active rear-wheel steering, continuously variable adaptive damping, torque vectoring control, and a claimed 50:50 front-to-rear axle weight ratio.

HiPhi says further details of its ‘A’ hypercar will be announced over the coming months.