HiPhi is a subsidiary of the Human Horizons group, a Shanghai start-up created in 2017 aimed at designing high-end electric vehicles. It has just presented the HiPhi Z, a luxurious sedan eyeing the German manufacturers.
She will not be the first, nor the last, to want to outdo Tesla, BMW or Audi. Chinese competition is growing restless, and several brands are waiting quietly at the gate: whether it is BYD, the very young brand of the Geely Group with the Zeekr 001 or even the P5 from XPeng, we cannot say that China is idle. HiPhi is therefore part of this new wave of competitors and already has a few vehicles to present: two SUVs (the X and the Y) and the famous Z, a sedan that it has just presented in its showroom in the heart of the airport. Munich.
Extravagant design and solid performance
The first aspect that strikes you when looking at the Z is its look. We are almost closer to a concept car or a car resulting from the lack of inspiration of a Rockstar Games designer working on online mode vehicles. Very sharp lines, edges in all directions and a massive overall appearance that will not please everyone. The Z is very far from Tesla’s all-purpose, minimalist look.
Inside, it’s also a riot of luxury: full-Alcantara interior, holographic Nappa leather upholstery imitating snakeskin patterns and Piano Black inserts. A gigantic 15.1-inch, fully pivotable screen sits in the center of the cabin, a design that is rather usual for vehicles in this range.
In terms of engine, the Z is equipped with two engines offering 672 hp under the pedal. Enough to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. It is, of course, very fast, but given the cavalry available, it is not a feat either. Whose fault is it ? By weight, of course! The Z weighs 2.6 tonnes. An excessive weight mainly due to its colossal 120 kWh battery manufactured by CATL. The range is given for 605 km (WLTP) but its recharging will be limited to 85 kW in Europe due to its adapter and its Chinese GB/T port. Tesla and its 270 kW are very quiet at this level.
A (too) bold bet?
In addition to this big recharging problem, the Z is dragging another burden, and not the least. The big advantage of Chinese cars is logically a price much lower than that of vehicles from historic European manufacturers. Well HiPhi took the very risky bet of offering its new sedan at the staggering price of 105,000 euros. That’s almost the price of an Audi e-Tron GT Quattro. The difference is that an Audi buyer knows where they are going and the e-Tron GT is renowned for its reliability and robust design. The Z absolutely cannot compete in terms of finish and brand image.
The premium sedan market is a complex segment to conquer in Europe and HiPhi is still playing a very big role. Finding a clientele with such prohibitive prices will certainly be a rather complex exercise. In the meantime, HiPhi will first release its SUV, the X, at a price of 109,000 euros all the same.
Source : Clean Automotive
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