GAC Hyper GT goes all-in on aero

GAC has pulled out the stops with its latest sports car, the fully electric Hyper GT. Sold under its sister brand Aion, this grand tourer is in stark contrast to the Hyper SSR revealed in September 2022 and is clearly designed more as a long distance cruiser than a traffic light dragster.

A short front end is to be expected with any EV today, and in this case it combines with a long wheelbase and short overhangs. This allows for an enormous greenhouse that sweeps back to the rear of the car, almost touching the end of the boot lid; GAC describes its proportions as ‘unique.’

Significantly, this has also resulted in an astonishing drag co-efficient (Cd) of 0.19X, which GAC says marks the Hyper GT as the world’s most aerodynamic production EV. This is not far off the EQXX concept car by Mercedes-Benz, a boat-tailed sedan with a Cd of 0.17, and ahead of the EQS production car with a Cd of 0.20. There are clear parallels between the Hyper GT and the 2019 ENO.146 concept (see gallery at the bottom of the page), which with a Cd of 0.146 was also a record-breaking show car on the wind resistance front.

The overall design is inspired by liquid metal, or more specifically, ‘high energy liquid titanium’ which GAC says is evidenced by the car’s “dynamic stance” and “combination of body design and aerodynamic performance.” The shoulder line and sill cut upwards at the rear wheel arch, juxtaposing a softer crease in the rear door that fades downwards. GAC says that with all this the Hyper GT has the look of a cheetah that is ready to pounce.

The front end is smoothed but not overly so, with subtle grilles at either corner of the lower mask. Other lines are visible in the centre which hide some interesting panels – more on that in a moment. Elsewhere, and black door pillars help to create the illusion of wraparound windows, which tie in seamlessly with the panoramic glass roof. It promises to be a bright and airy interior ideal for long cruises.

But don’t let this fool you – it’s not all about comfort. The Hyper GT has indeed been designed with performance in mind and debuts GAC’s new active aero solutions at the front and rear of the car. These reduce drag and improve downforce automatically at different speeds. This is where those hidden panels in the front grille come in to play; GAC says it is the first car with a fully enclosed front fascia to feature a ‘Wind Blade Grille’ that opens automatically at higher speeds. At 80kph, a spoiler at the rear also rises to boost handling.

”Excellent aerodynamics performance and high efficiency is the one of the embodiments of Aion brand,” says VP of design Fan Zhang. “The Hyper GT possesses unique proportions and excellent aerodynamics, with a low front end, sloping A-pillar, sleek silhouette and low ground clearance. In 2019, we achieved an incredible 0.146 aerodynamic number. This year, we made it on a production car with the Hyper GT. It is a goal that the design and engineering teams pursue together.”

This is all well and good, but perhaps the most exciting element of the design becomes apparent at a standstill. The Hyper GT features butterfly-style doors (described as Sky Doors) which GAC says creates an element of “drama” when entering and exiting the car. To be technically correct, the doors in fact use a dihedral synchro-helix actuation mechanism. Photos from the official launch during the Guangzhou Auto Show suggest the team is particularly proud of this part of the design.

”During the process,” explains Zhang, ”we needed to work closely with the engineering teams to make sure that the angle, time and stability of door opening is accurate and smooth, which needs continuous discussions and repeated tests and trials with engineering.” This is all part of the Aion brand, he says, which have “dynamic and sporty genes.”

Careful attention has been paid to some of the finer details. Sensors that enable driver assistance features are discretely integrated within the exterior, while the 19” six-spoke rims are ‘racing-inspired’ and give the effect of a gloss black carbon-fibre. Up front, and there are new electrode headlights that differ to traditional penetrating headlights and feature LED graphics that create the impression of a pulsing current.

GAC might be one of the bigger names in China but it is still a relatively young brand. As such, it is still trying to cultivate its own unique look. Rather than all models sharing the same face but with different bodies, the design team has chosen to differentiate the portfolio in a way that other brands have not. In an interview for the latest Car Design Review book, available here, Zhang told CDN how the team is approaching the challenge.

“We are not like brands that have been around for a hundred years and already have a strong brand image… People don’t have a clear perception of us yet,” he said. “We had to reflect on this, and for our next generation of designs we decided to make each product more characteristic in its own way.” He describes them as “superheroes from the same group” as opposed to “a set of Russian dolls.”

The design language shown with both the new Hyper GT and the Hyper SSR from last year was originally trialled with the Time, Space and Enpulse concepts, which in hindsight would preview the direction of the all-electric Aion brand.

Zhang explains that the team decided to separate Aion from GAC Motor products, which are ICE-powered and are “more techy with sharp detailing” via the Space Diamond design language. By contrast, Aion carries the Teardrop on the Blade design language, which is “more sensual with extreme proportions.” This was developed further for the Hyper GT, described as “Waterdrop Shaped by the Wind.”

Zhang concludes that as more projects continue to launch, “these two design philosophies will become more clear.”