New HiPhi A Is a Radical 1,287 HP Chinese EV Sports Saloon

The HiPhi A bows ahead of the Guangzhou Auto Show 2023 this week, and it claims to have the chops to shame not just supercars, but the Tesla Model S Plaid too.

Ahead of this week’s Guangzhou Auto Show 2023, the new HiPhi A was revealed online and, given the performance claims its makers have touted, there’s indeed plenty of buzz surrounding this Chinese super-EV of sorts.

In terms of styling, the HiPhi A sports plenty of similarities as the HiPhi Z liftback sedan shown by parent company Human Horizons last year. The HiPhi A does ramp up on aggression with its stance thanks to its radical aerokit it wears complete with a massive rear wing constructed out of carbon fibre.

Unlike the now tame-looking HiPhi Z, the HiPhi A boasts heightened aggression in its stance thanks to the added aerokit complete with a massive carbon fibre rear wing.

The radical styling is perhaps fitting given what the HiPhi A packs underneath – a Tesla-shaming tri-motor setup rated at 1,287 HP. Featuring dual rear motors working in tandem with a sole front motor, said output figure stands nearly double that of the dual-motor HiPhi Z, which boasts just 662 HP.

Said tri-motor setup and claimed output sees the HiPhi A claiming the ability to despatch 0-100 KM/H in just 2 seconds, and reach a claimed top speed of 300 KM/H too. To put things in perspective, the HiPhi A’s claimed century sprint time will shame not just supercars, but also the Tesla Model S Plaid.

Self-developed in-house by HiPhi, said tri-motors also harness oil-cooling and rotors constructed using carbon fibre. Tied to an 800-volt EV architecture, these motors boast the ability achieve extremely high rotational speeds of up to 22,000 RPM.

Boasting 1,287 HP, the HiPhi A claims to be able to despatch 0-100 KM/H sprints in just 2 seconds before hitting a 300 KM/H top speed.

HiPhi skirted away from revealing the battery type and size primed here. Instead, the firm highlighted that it was also developed in-house and has the ability to discharge up to 1.5 megawatts of power at its peak. 

It also noted the battery’s casing being made of composite materials and ‘bulletproof coating’, and also features fireproof coatings plus real-time monitoring.

To match its immense speed, the HiPhi A also promises high-levels of handling to match. This largely stems from its claimed 50:50 weight distribution, presence of a rear-wheel-steering module, “race-level” carbon ceramic brakes, wider tyres, torque-vectoring system, and air suspension that continuously adjusts itself.

Promising equally high levels of handling are "race level" carbon ceramic brakes, torque-vectoring system, as well as a continuously adjustable air suspension system.

According to HiPhi, production of the HiPhi A will employ special construction methods such as nano-ceramics and TC4 titanium. Apart from which, it appears this sportier offshoot of the HiPhi Z will retain the latter’s digital screen in the rear door.

As for the rest of the HiPhi A’s interior, what’s notable here too is the triple-screen layout primed up front with two virtual side mirror camera screens. Also, passengers are reportedly able to use these screens and communicate with other drivers too.

Up front, the HiPhi A's dash features a triple-screen layout that also boasts virtual side view camera monitors.

On board, there's space for four. The HiPhi A also retains the digital screens in the doors as seen in the HiPhi Z.

According to Human Horizons, deliveries (likely in China) for the HiPhi A are poised to start in 2025 before marketing it internationally after. Presently, HiPhi has already begun European sales in Germany, with plans to expand further. It also has a UK factory dedicated to building right-hand-drive models.

More details surrounding this Tesla Model S Plaid-rivalling super EV are expected once it publicly debuts this week at the Guangzhou Auto Show 2023.