The joint brand of Huawei and SAIC, named Saic (in Chinese — Shangjie), has officially opened orders for its most ambitious models: the coupe-like sedan Z7 and the Z7T shooting brake. The new models are aimed at competing with the Xiaomi SU7, offering technologies that were previously only available in premium flagship models.
German silhouette and Chinese practicality
The design of both models is clearly inspired by the Porsche Taycan and its Cross Turismo version. The cars have identical dimensions: a length of 5036 mm, width — 1975 mm, and height — 1465 mm with a wheelbase of 3000 mm. Customers can choose between 20-inch wheels with staggered tires: 245/45 at the front and 275/40 at the rear, emphasizing the sporty nature of the cars.
Z7 sedan and Z7T estate. Photo: Saic
Despite the visual similarity, the Z7T estate offers more luggage space thanks to the extended roofline. The trunk volume of the sedan is 1582 liters with the rear seats folded, while the shooting brake holds 1694 liters. Both models are equipped with soft-close doors, a front trunk that opens with a "double tap," and active suspension.
Technological breakthrough: Huawei ADS 4.1 "eyes"
The main feature of the duo is the Huawei ADS 4.1 driver assistance system, which operates on the basis of a unique 896-line LiDAR. This allows the car to recognize small obstacles only 14 cm high at a distance of 122 meters, even at night. Such a level of detail turns ordinary cruise control into a full-fledged digital pilot.
Salon with large screen. Photo: Saic
Inside, the driver is greeted by a huge "floating" central display, a narrow digital instrument panel, and a head-up display. The passenger seat features a "zero gravity" function, and there are two pads for wireless smartphone charging on the central tunnel. The interior is offered in five colors: from classic black and beige to exotic yellow, red, and purple.
Power and range of 900+ kilometers
The technical aspect is based on the Whale platform with 800-volt architecture. The base version receives a single electric motor on the rear axle with a power output of 264 kW (354 hp). The top all-wheel-drive variant produces a total of 434 kW (582 hp), allowing the sedan to accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.44 seconds.
The system is powered by NMC batteries from CATL with a capacity of 81 or 100 kWh. Thanks to energy consumption optimization, the maximum range in the CLTC cycle reaches 905 km. This is one of the best figures in its class.
Prices and market prospects
The price of the Saic Z7 sedan in the presale stage starts at 228,800 yuan — approximately $33,225. The Z7T estate will cost slightly more — from 239,800 yuan or $34,820.
