This Chinese Luxury Electric SUV Comes With Full Vehicle-To-Everything Communications

Chinese start-up Human Horizons, whose technical team is led by the former boss of Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division, has unveiled a radical electric SUV concept called the HiPhi 1.

The machine closely previews the new firm’s first production car, which it says is due on sale within two years.

Human Horizons describes itself as a technology company that's focusing on “smart vehicles, smart transportation and smart cities”. It plans to develop a range of machines for the growing Chinese premium EV market, designed for both private owners and shared use, featuring advanced autonomous systems and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.

The HiPhi 1 concept is the first car the firm has revealed. Technical development has been led by Mark Stanton, who formerly worked for both Ford and Jaguar Land Rover.

The exterior design has been informed by Chinese tastes, with a tall crossover design and a large, coupé-like glasshouse. Human Horizons says the lack of a combustion engine has allowed the front bulkhead to be pushed much further forward than in a conventional car, with the 5.2-metre overall length – similar to that of a long wheelbase Range Rover – allowing huge interior space.

The car’s structure incorporates both high-strength steel and aluminium, with the battery compartment under the floor. The dashboard is largely formed of display screens, with a digital instrument pack, portrait-orientated touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard and another in front of the passenger for playing media. It also features a camera-based rear-view system, although this isn’t currently legal in China.

While there are no plans to sell the HiPhi 1 outside China in the short term, the firm has global ambitions in the longer term. Pricing is yet to be set, but the HiPhi 1 is likely to be at the higher end of the Chinese EV market. Deliveries are due to being in 2021. Production will take place in a plant – currently being refitted – that was formerly used by Kia’s Chinese joint venture partner.

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Li Xang: A Chinese Car With A Sleek Design And Amazing Features

The ever-growing world of Chinese car brands has just be joined by another newcomer: Li Xiang. In English, that name means Leading Ideal, and the vehicle you see below is the brand’s first production model. Dubbed the Li Xiang One, it certainly looks quite promising.

Powering the One is a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.2-liter turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor. Unlike most hybrids currently on the market, the 1.2-liter engine doesn’t actually power the wheels and is used exclusively as a range extender to recharge the battery. This setup results in a total of 326 hp and 530 Nm (390 lb-ft) of torque and the large SUV will allegedly travel 700 km (434 miles) before needing some juice.

The Li Xiang One is big, measuring 5020 mm (197-inches) long, 1960 mm (77-inches) wide, and 1760 mm (69-inches) tall. Those dimensions are more than enough to support seven seats but the car manufacturer instead decided to fit two large seats in the second row rather than three, giving occupants have plenty of room. The company says a seven-seat configuration is also available if the customer so wishes.

Seating layout aside, the One comes with no less than four screens in the cabin. There’s a digital gauge cluster and next to it, two large infotainment screens. Positioned below these screens is a fourth display used to operate things such as the climate control. Nappa leather is also found throughout and has been sourced from the same company that supplies BMW with its leather, while a Level 2 autonomous driving system is standard.

Prices for the One in China start at around 400,000 yuan, that is about #22million. The brand, as well as its hybrid SUV, will debut at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show.