Wild 960kW sedan unveiled by luxury Chinese electric-car start-up

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【Summary】Chinese electric-car start-up HiPhi has unveiled the HiPhi A, a high-performance sedan with 960kW power and a 0-100km/h time of two seconds. The sedan features aggressive aerodynamics and improvements to its performance, including rear-wheel steering and carbon-ceramic brakes. The company aims to target customers seeking luxury and high-performance models. While it has not been confirmed, the HiPhi A may eventually be sold in Australia.

FutureCar Staff Nov 20, 2023 3:15 PM PT

Wild 960kW sedan unveiled by luxury Chinese electric-car start-up

The HiPhi A is a high-performance electric sedan with three motors and a claimed 0-100km/h time of two seconds – rivalling the fastest supercars.

Chinese electric-car start-up HiPhi has unveiled a high-performance battery-powered sedan, with wild aerodynamics and 960kW – and it could one day come to Australia.

Revealed ahead of the upcoming Guangzhou motor show, the HiPhi A is the fourth model from the Chinese company. It aims to bypass the less expensive end of the electric-car market and go directly to customers in search of luxury and high-performance models.

Based on the already-released HiPhi Z, the A takes the electric sedan to new extremes with its imposing front bumper canards and large rear wing. However, it has received further improvements under the skin to back up its performance appearance.

Unlike the HiPhi Z, which is powered by two electric motors, the HiPhi A gains a second motor at the back. It has a claimed output of 960kW delivered to all four wheels. The A can accelerate from 0-100km/h in little more than two seconds and reach a top speed of approximately 290km/h, according to HiPhi.

The HiPhi A also features rear-wheel steering, carbon-ceramic brakes, adjustable dampers (on top of air suspension), and a claimed 50:50 weight distribution. These additional changes further enhance its performance capabilities.

The development of the HiPhi A involved assistance from German firm Apollo Automobil, known for the Gumpert Apollo. The Gumpert Apollo briefly held the Nürburgring lap record for production cars and was featured on Top Gear in the late 2000s.

While it has not yet been confirmed, there is a possibility that the HiPhi A could be sold in Australia. The Chinese company recently announced plans to start selling its vehicles in the UK, another right-hand-drive market, by 2026.

Jordan Mulach, a Canberra/Ngunnawal born individual currently residing in Brisbane/Turrbal, joined the Drive team in 2022. Jordan has previously worked for Auto Action, MotorsportM8, The Supercars Collective and TouringCarTimes, WhichCar, Wheels, Motor, and Street Machine. He describes himself as an iRacing addict and can be found on weekends either behind the wheel of his Octavia RS or swearing at his ZH Fairlane.