When talking about fast cars, what generally comes to our mind is Swedish Regera (Koenigsegg), Italian Huayra (Pagani), Aventador (Lamborghini) or Portofino (Ferrari), the American Corvette, Mustang or Ford GT or the German Porsche Taycan & Audi R8 etc. The list keeps getting longer and longer every passing year. These countries have engraved their masterpieces in the hearts and minds of auto enthusiasts worldwide for several years.
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However on the other hand, many countries now seek to take the podium from these titleholders with the eternal competition on who makes the fastest cars in the world. China has been in the automotive industry long enough to meet the trend, and they have been tapping into every possible segment from daily use sedans and hatchbacks to off-roaders & SUVs, and from luxury saloons to even performance cars. Chinese automakers like Nio, Hongqi, BAIC, and Lynk & Co are making mind-blowing reveals and releases of some of the fastest cars with some astonishingly impressive figures. Here are some incredibly fast Chinese cars you probably never knew they existed.
Lynk & Co O3+ Cyan Edition
The O3+ Cyan Edition is a high performance variant of 03 sedan manufactured by Lynk & co, a division of Geely which also owns Volvo. It’s racing derivative has also helped Lynk & Co to become the first Chinese brand to lift an FIA World Title win in 2019. The O3+ Cyan Edition is equipped with a 2.0L four-cylinder engine that sends 261 hp of power and 380 Nm of torque to all four wheels. Mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, it helps the 03+ to go from 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 311 km/h.
Li Auto L9
Li Auto L9 EREV (range extender electric vehicle) is a freshly launched full-size luxury crossover SUV in China which competes against the likes of Mercedes-Benz GLS and the BMW X7 in Chinese market. Being an EREV, its 1.5L four-cylinder engine only powers the battery while the two electric motors it has, results in a combined output of 330 kW (449 hp) and 620 Nm. With them on board, the L9 can reach from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds.
Voyah Free
Voyah is a high-end EV brand under the umbrella of Dongfeng Motors. Currently, its model lineup consists of only one 7-seat electric SUV called Free. It is available as front-wheel and all-wheel-drive electric as well as range-extended hybrid with a 1.5L turbo engine that charges the battery. The all-electric all-wheel drive variant delivers 694 hp and 1,040 Nm and can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. The combined power output of the extended-range model is 671 hp and 1,000 Nm peak torque while 0-100 km/h acceleration is just 4.6 seconds.
NIO ES6
The all-electric ES6 was launched in December 2018 as NIO’s second SUV offering to compete against the likes of Tesla Model Y and BMW iX3. Three swappable lithium-ion battery pack options are offered ranging from 70 kWh to a 100-kWh unit that provides a driving range of up to 610 km. Boasting an all-aluminum body and chassis, it rides on an active air suspension while 2 electric motors supply power to all four wheels. You might be wondering what a 5-seat SUV is doing here in the list of fast cars, here is why. Thanks to an output of 536 hp and a staggering 725 Nm of torque, the ES6 can hit 0-100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds.
BYD Tang
BYD Tang is another fast going SUV that has been around for quite a few years now. It got recently blessed with a facelift featuring various improvements as well as visual enhancements. The Tang EV comes in single-motor 2WD and dual-motor 4WD variants, the latter uses a combination of a 180 kW motor and a 200 kW motor (for front & rear axles) and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds, thanks to a combined output of 380 kW which equivalent to 517 hp.
Xpeng P7
Launched in December 2019, the Xpeng P7 is a stylish luxurious sports sedan. The comprehensive suspension system (front double-wishbone + rear multi-link), is professionally tuned to complement the refined chassis and provide outstanding ride comfort. It boasts strong Brembo brakes in addition to an autonomous driving assistance system and the Nvidia Drive AGX Xavier. Thanks to a dual-motor AWD system with a drive capacity of 424 hp, the Xpeng P7 is capable to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds.
NIO ET7
The NIO ET7 was unveiled in January 2021 as a response to Tesla Model S sedan in China. Sleek and upscale, the all-electric sedan is built on the NT2.0 architecture and boasts an advanced driver-assist system in addition to the latest high-tech features. It’s dual electric motors setup generate 644 hp and mind boggling 854 Nm of torque resulting in a 100km/h sprint from standstill in just 3.8 seconds.
Qiantu K50
Qiantu K50 is an all-electric sports car designed and made by the Chinese automotive manufacturer, Qiantu Motors. A 78.84kWh lithium-ion battery with a range of 365 km powers 2 electric motors, one on each axle, for a combined power output of 376 hp and 580 Nm. Boasting a 47/53 front/rear weight distribution, the Qiantu K50 relies on electronic control programs to send power to the front and rear axles. With a top speed of 200 km/h, the Qiantu K50 makes it from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds.
BYD Han
Han is a popular mid-sized premium sedan from BYD which boasts some impressive performance figures too. Under the hood, the Han EV comes standard with BYD’s 85.4kWh Blade Battery. Han’s four-wheel-drive, high-performance version has a total power of 380kW (508 hp) and peak torque of 700 Nm, helping the sedan accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in only 3.9 seconds.
Windbooster Titan
Windbooster Titan was introduced by a company called Windbooster Car Corporation, which is fully owned by Cammus, a large maker of performance and after-market parts. The battery pack is 500V/72 kWh while there are two motors, one at the front axle and one at the rear axle. Together they deliver 544 hp of power and 1000 Nm of torque. Top speed is said to be 260 km/ hour, while it takes only 3.9 seconds for the Titan to reach 0-100 km/h, and just 5.9 seconds to reach 250km/h.
IM L7
IM Motors was founded as a joint venture between SAIC, Alibaba, and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech, and their first model is the L7 premium electric sedan which debuted in 2022. The L7 electric sedan comes equipped with all-wheel drive, with a 175kW (235 hp) motor on the front axle and 250kW (335 hp) motor on the rear. Combined, they produce 725 Nm of torque and enables L7 to sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds.
BYD Seal
BYD launched the Seal EV sedan as a direct competitor of Tesla Model 3. Built on company’s third generation e-platform 3.0, the BYD Seal boasts a cruising range of 700km with an 800V high-voltage setup. The flagship version of Seal EV features a dual-motor setup which combines a 160 kW (214 hp) motor at the front and a 230 kW (308 hp) motor at the rear allowing a 0-100 km/h acceleration of just 3.8 seconds.
Leapmotor C01
Leapmotor C01 debuted at the 2022 Shenzhen Auto in China. The fastback-styled C01 electric sedan boasts a drag coefficient of just 0.226cd which is attained through the use of concealed door handles, frame-less doors, a roof-line flowing effortlessly to the back, and low-drag rims on all four wheels. Its flagship variant comes with two electric drives having a maximum torque output of 720 Nm and peak power of 400 kW (542 hp) allowing it to reach from 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds.
Avatr 011 SE
Avatr brand was formed in collaboration with Changan, technology giant Huawei and battery maker CATL. The first vehicle unveiled by Avatr was a large coupe-SUV called 11 which is built on Changan’s EP1 electric car platform. The ternary lithium battery pack used in the 011 SUV has an energy capacity of 90.38 kWh for a range of up to 700 km. Performance-wise, the 011 takes just 3.0 seconds to get from 0-100 km/h and can hit a top speed of 200 km/h.
Techrules Ren RS
Techrules Ren RS has been designed by two renowned automotive designers, Fabrizio and Giorgetto Giugiaro. Described as “Weirdly Fast”, the Techrules Ren RS was revealed at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show. Visitors were awe-struck by the fascinating features of this electric masterpiece. A four-electric motor configuration produce 858 hp and 1560 Nm of torque, as well as a 6-electric motor setup with 1287 hp and 2340 Nm of torque. The Ren RS could reach a top speed of 330 km/h and accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds.
GAC Aion LX Plus
The GAC Aion LX Plus is another electric SUV that is able to achieve impressive figures thanks to a huge battery pack with a capacity of 144.4 kWh in the flagship variant. It boasts an impressive 1,008 km drive range in a single charge according to the China light-duty vehicle test cycle (CLTC). The Aion LX Plus is equipped with dual electric motors producing a combined 725 hp (540 kW) transmitted to all four wheels through a two-speed gearbox. This helps the LX Plus to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds.
Lotus Eletre
Lotus is a British automotive marque that was acquired by Chinese auto giant Geely (which already owns Volvo) in 2017. Eletre high-performance battery electric mid-size luxury crossover SUV is the first car that the company has launched after coming under the Chinese influence. Lotus Eletre was designed at Geely Design Studio in Coventry and is produced in Wuhan, China. Eletre packs two electric motors linked to a battery with a capacity of over 100kWh. The AWD setup generates 600hp of power and allows the car to sprint from 0-100km/h in around 2.9 seconds. It boasts a top-speed of 260 km/h and up to 600 km of WLTP driving range.
NIO EP9
The EP9 was the very first car produced by the Chinese electric vehicle startup NIO back in 2017, and it immediately went on to grab some world records on the hardest circuits such as the Nurburgring. Located at each wheel is an electric motor with an output of 336 hp which combines to give the EP9 a staggering total system output of 1341 hp. With a top speed of 312 km/h, the EP9 can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in a blistering 2.7 seconds. Fully charged, the EP9’s battery can last for 426 km.
Arcfox-GT
The Arcfox GT is a two-door all-electric GT supercar that embodies technology and design. It was revealed at the 2019 Geneva Auto Show alongside the Arcfox GT race edition. Power is supplied by four electric motors (one at each wheel) that combine to churn out 1005 hp of road rage. Designed with an integrated carbon monocoque, the electric supercar is capable to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in only 2.59 seconds and can run at a top speed of 255 km/h.
Hongqi S9
Designed by Walter de Silva, this unique hypercar was first shown as a concept at the 2019 Frankfurt International Motor show. Built mostly from carbon fiber, it uses a 4.0L V8 engine backed by electric motors to produce an output of 1381 hp. The Hongqi S9 has cool aesthetics and natural elegance and is confirmed as FAW’s first drivable hypercar. Unveiled in 2021, the production version promises a top speed of 402 km/h and a face-distorting 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 1.9 seconds.
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While only 20 of such examples have been shared above, there is a flurry of Chinese cars with sprint times under 7 seconds and might require several posts to be compiled. This also goes to show the potential of electric drivetrains which have enabled these novice automakers to bring out such incredible performance numbers, which otherwise are quite hard to achieve with pure combustion engines.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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