F8 Tributo

Make
Ferrari
Segment
Coupe

The Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) has to be the most ambitious of all successful Chinese automakers. Thanks to the all-new Aion Hyper SSR, it might even break a record.

It was the first Chinese manufacturer to showcase vehicles at the Detroit Motor Show, which is sacred ground in the USA. GAC showcased two models in 2018 and hoped to introduce them by the end of 2019. But then Covid-19 shut the world down, and the recent introduction of the Inflation Reduction Act has made it clear that any car even remotely related to China is not welcome locally.

But that hasn't stopped the state-owned manufacturer from working on new EVs, as there's still significant demand outside of the USA. GAC's latest product is an EV hypercar, retailing for just $240,000.

As is the case with most Chinese cars we cover, the claims are astonishing, but vital facts are missing from the puzzle.

The GAC Aion Hyper SSR is powered by two electric motors with a combined power output of 1,225 horsepower and 8,850 lb-ft of torque. As Hummer discovered, that kind of torque can be both a blessing and a curse. We can't help but wonder whether the torque output has to be restricted to keep the GAC from doing wheelies.

Unfortunately, GAC did not confirm the size of the battery pack behind the fantastic achievement, but we know that it's a lithium-ion pack.

The most astonishing figure is the claimed 0-62 mph time of 1.9 seconds, which means it may be the fastest accelerating production car in history. Rimac claims a 0-60 mph time of 1.85 seconds for the Nevera and a 0-62 mph time of 1.97 seconds.

We can't wait for the real-life battle to see which is faster. Even if the Nevera is less than a split-second ahead, the Aion Hyper SSR will still be a fantastic achievement. The Nevera costs seven figures, and GAC will sell this for less than a Ferrari F8 Tributo.

The design is inspired by the GAC's Enpulse Concept, which made its debut at the 2020 Beijing Auto Show. Quite a few of that car's design features are carried over to the production car. These include the so-called Sky Doors, turbine wheels, and an active rear wing.

The interior is minimalist and dominated by a square steering wheel and a 14.6-inch touchscreen interface. You'll also notice a small 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster providing critical information to the driver, which is necessary when you can hit 60 mph in less than two seconds.

Two versions of the car will be available. The AWD model we focused on in this article will retail for $240,000, but a slower RWD model will also be sold. It takes a leisurely 2.3 seconds to get to 62 mph and will retail for $180,000. That's less than any Ferrari.

Deliveries in China will begin in October 2023, and GAC has not mentioned any details of selling it outside of its home country.