Human Horizons unveils HiPhi X luxury electric SUV

Last year Car Design News spoke with James Shyr, chief design officer and founding partner of Human Horizons, about the HiPhi 1 prototype. Two days before the 2020 Beijing Motor Show, the production HiPhi X was unveiled and we were there.

There are two major design surprises. Firstly, the production car is very similar to the futuristic prototype that was first unveiled in 2019, and secondly, there are four- and six-seater versions available. But the only noticeable visual difference between the production model and prototype is that the former does not have the digital rear view mirrors. “These are actually production ready, but the current laws in China don’t allow them,” explains Nicolas Huet, vice president of design.

Huet claims it is the same car, just better. Aerodynamic tweaks have shaved 0.01 off the drag coefficient, which now stands at 0.27. And if the digital mirrors are allowed in the future, a further reduction will be achieved.

The A-pillar is positioned far forward, optimising internal space for occupants. There is also no combustion engine, allowing the passenger compartment to start further forward, and thanks to the long wheelbase there is more space in the third row than in a Tesla Model X.

The biggest difference between the four- and six-seater variants is the layout of the second row. On the six-seater, the seats can move sideways as well as back and forth, but on the four-seater this is not possible due to the inclusion of a champagne cooler and crystal glasses behind the arm rest. Occupants in the four-seater also benefit from the airline-style electric reclining seats, which are controlled from the fold down arm rest. There are also fold-out tray tables with holders for the champagne glasses. “A sedan is never going to offer this level of comfort,” Huet comments.

The rear suicide doors on the four-seater open differently, and have been specifically designed to blend into the interior. Both models keep the prototype’s split-opening door design that aids ingress and egress, but the top roof panel does not close when the car senses it’s raining in order to protect the interior, as it did in the prototype.

There are five colours (including the carnelian orange and titanium grey, as pictured) available for buyers of the initial ’Founders Edition’ models, of which just 100 will be produced. These units will also have a special logo that appears on the front wheel arch and on the leather. The four-seater also gets a number badge made from real gold, which also acts as the button to bring down the champagne.

Human Horizons is clearly positioning the HiPhi marque in the luxury space. It’s worth remembering that Huet himself is a former BMW designer. Prices are also premium, with the ’Founders Edition’ models starting at RMB680,000 (£77,623) for the six-seater and rising to RMB800,000 for the four-seater.