GAC Group has updated its Aion Hyper GT. The new version is exactly the same as its predecessor but adds Level 3 autonomy into the mix. Priced at around € 34,400, Hyper GT is packed with three laser radar sensors, 12 cameras, six mmWave radars, an infrared night vision camera, and even a super-powered MDC610 chip for its "deep-learning control algorithms". In a perfect world, all this hardware should, in theory, be capable of handling complicated urban driving situations.
GAC is very, very enthusiastic about its
L3-level promises. They insist safety is the prime directive, touting redundant
systems galore. But here's the thing about L3 autonomy – current regulations
and technology aren't really up to the task. You might own a car with the
capability but don't expect to legally leave driving entirely to your Hyper GT
anytime soon. The Hyper GT promises a decent range of up to 710 km and claims
to recharge with an additional 450 km of range in a mere 15 minutes. On the
performance front, it delivers 340 horsepower and accelerates from 0 to 100
km/h in a respectable 4.9 seconds.
Aion, the GAC subsidiary behind the Hyper
GT, clearly wants to be a major player in the intelligent driving game. Their
new NDA (New Driving Architecture) is supposed to offer limited L3
functionality sometime in April, with the ambitious goal of full L4-level
self-driving by 2025. Bold. Maybe a bit too bold. Lest you think they're crazy,
GAC is sweetening the deal. Buy a Hyper GT before March 31, and you'll score a
lifetime of free charging across China. That's a tempting offer, designed to
get you behind the wheel of a car essentially promising a feature that may take
years to fully materialize.
