GAC's Xingyuan Powertrain Brand Launch – 2-Ton SUV Achieves 3L/100km and 4-Second Acceleration

On April 12, the 2026 GAC Technology Day, themed "Technology for the Heart," was held at GAC Group's headquarters in Panyu, Guangzhou. Following the launch of Xingyuan range-extender technology in 2025, GAC's independent powertrain R&D team unveiled two new technologies: Xingyuan plug-in hybrid and Xingyuan super hybrid (HEV+), together forming the complete Xingyuan powertrain technology brand.

 From the extreme rigidity of the Xingyuan body, to the warm companionship of the Xinghe smart cockpit, to the foundational breakthroughs of the Xingling E/E Architecture 4.0 and domestic chip ecosystem, GAC presented five major technology matrices declaring war on every "settle-for" aspect of driving. For Hong Kong users navigating the post-"One-for-One" policy era and entering a new phase of product-driven competition, GAC's "all-domain hybrid" solution may mark the true starting point of a "painless EV transition."

Xingyuan Plug-In Hybrid: 3L/100km for a 2-Ton SUV, 4-Second Acceleration for Thunder Edition

The Xingyuan plug-in hybrid features a 1.5T hybrid engine producing 125kW and 245Nm, with three fuel-saving technologies raising peak thermal efficiency by nearly 3%. The GMC 3.0 hybrid transmission offers two precise choices: Thunder Edition and Wind Edition.

The Thunder Edition focuses on high performance, with a combined system output torque exceeding 6,700Nm. Paired with a P4 rear-axle electric drive, total wheel torque reaches 10,000Nm, pushing a mid-to-large SUV to 0-100km/h in the 4-second range. Low-speed climbing capability reaches a 70% grade (approx. 35°). The all-wheel-drive system features AI intelligent vector torque control, dynamically distributing torque between front and rear axles in milliseconds, with maximum single-wheel output torque of 5,000Nm – allowing the vehicle to escape even if three wheels lose traction. The Thunder Edition shatters the stereotype that "large cars are sluggish" – a 2-ton SUV can both accelerate to 100km/h in 4 seconds and achieve fuel consumption of just over 3L/100km.

The Wind Edition is an efficiency benchmark, with a total unit weight of only 98.5kg – the first mass-produced dual-motor hybrid transmission under 100kg in China. Peak transmission efficiency reaches 98.65%, and electronic control efficiency 99.2%. Combined with a self-developed AI energy control platform, it brings B-class MPV fuel consumption into the 3L era, and A-class sedan fuel consumption into the 2L era. Extremely low self-discharge technology and an intelligent sleep system ensure the vehicle can still start after a year of storage. With over 10 million kilometers of equivalent validation and "five high, one mountain, one dust" all-scenario extreme environment testing, the Xingyuan plug-in hybrid has been named "World's Top Ten Hybrid Systems" based on multiple industry-first achievements.

Xingyuan Super Hybrid (HEV+): Pure Electric Experience Without Plugging In

Targeting traditional fuel vehicle users, the Xingyuan super hybrid debuts a 5.4kWh high-rate safety battery with peak discharge power of 150kW – an 87.5% increase over the previous generation. In low-speed conditions, it supports over 17km of pure electric driving. When parked, users can enjoy in-car entertainment, 2.2kW V2L discharge, 12-hour sentry mode, and OTA updates without consuming fuel. Under CLTC conditions, A-class sedans achieve around 2L/100km, while a 2.1-ton seven-seat B-class MPV achieves fuel consumption in the 3L range. Without changing refueling habits or worrying about charging piles, users can enjoy intelligent experiences and fuel economy close to pure electric vehicles – a highly practical solution for Hong Kong drivers living in older buildings without home charging.

Xingyuan Body: Four Times the Torsional Rigidity of Hardcore Off-Roaders

The Xingyuan body features an original "embedded frame + multi-loop cage" closed-section anti-twist structure, including front-to-rear high-strength embedded beams, a 5-longitudinal-13-lateral high-strength steel protective frame, and hidden A-pillar anti-roll bars. Torsional rigidity reaches 38,000 Nm/°, approximately four times that of a benchmark hardcore off-road vehicle; bending rigidity reaches 42,000 N/mm, 1.5 times the industry average. Critical areas use 2,000MPa-grade hot-formed steel, with A-pillars using 2,200MPa gas expansion tubes, achieving roof crush resistance of 12.2 tons – 2.7 times the national standard requirement. After over 600 simulation iterations, more than 3,000 hours of bench testing, and 1 million kilometers of real-world all-terrain testing, one vehicle handles both family use and off-road adventures.

Xinghe Smart Cockpit: Multimodal Large Model with 1.6-Second Response

The Xinghe smart cockpit ADiGO Intelligence system uses a cloud-edge integrated architecture, powered by a multimodal large model with end-to-end response latency under 1.6 seconds and in-cabin target recognition accuracy exceeding 95%. A memory-based multi-agent collaboration engine can simultaneously coordinate 15 AI skills, completing full-service processes such as route planning, restaurant queuing, and parking reservations in one go. The system can sense occupant emotional states in real time, coordinating sound, light, and AI avatar interactions to provide proactive companionship. It is scheduled to be gradually deployed on relevant models in the third quarter of 2026.

Xingling E/E Architecture 4.0 and Chip Ecosystem: Mass Production Milestone with 100% Domestic Chips

The Xingling E/E Architecture 4.0 features a domain-fusion computing center powered by a 3nm flagship chip, achieving industry-leading integration of six domains: intelligent driving, smart cockpit, powertrain, chassis, body, and connectivity. Communication bandwidth is increased fivefold, cross-system coordination response time is compressed to 2ms, and full-vehicle OTA update time is reduced from 30 minutes to 8 minutes. In the automotive-grade chip ecosystem, the Hyper GT Climbing Edition will launch in May 2026, with 1,004 chips achieving 100% domestic coverage – the first intelligent NEV in China with fully domestic chip design. The "Hanyu" M1, a central computing SoC chip co-developed with ZTE Microelectronics, offers high computing power and security. GAC has collaborated with 105 ecosystem partners to complete joint definition, development, and application validation of nearly 400 chips.

Hong Kong Perspective: GAC's RHD Template and Hybrid Opportunity

For Hong Kong users, GAC's technological breakthroughs are more relevant than one might think. In March, GAC sold nearly 2,000 wholesale units in Hong Kong and submitted over 2,500 registration applications, aiming for a top-two ranking in registrations. GAC has already introduced several RHD models to Hong Kong, including the AION V, AION Y PLUS, Hyper HT, and Trumpchi E9. To ensure vehicle supply during the "One-for-One" policy rush, GAC International coordinated with its production team to open a dedicated Hong Kong order production line, prioritizing RHD model capacity.

With the "One-for-One" policy ending on March 31, the purchase cost of pure EVs has risen significantly, and the value of plug-in hybrids and HEVs is being reassessed. For Hong Kong users without home charging, the Xingyuan plug-in hybrid and super hybrid offer a pragmatic "refuel-and-go" solution. The plug-in hybrid delivers 3L/100km fuel economy and 4-second acceleration for a 2-ton vehicle, while the super hybrid allows traditional fuel car users to enjoy EV-like intelligence without changing their refueling habits. GAC has mature RHD development experience, and its strong performance in Hong Kong demonstrates local acceptance of GAC products. When these next-generation hybrid technologies arrive on Hong Kong's streets in RHD form, local users will have more "no-compromise" choices.

Personal Opinion

Looking at the full range of GAC Technology Day announcements, my strongest impression is that "tech democratization" is turning from a slogan into reality. In the past, "4-second acceleration" was reserved for performance cars, "3L/100km" was a label for Japanese hybrids, and "100% domestic chips" was a distant goal. GAC's technology day broke these "impossibilities" one by one, demonstrating the Chinese automotive industry's shift from scale expansion to technological independence, systemic innovation, and ecosystem leadership. For Hong Kong users, this means a more diverse, more pragmatic era of car consumption is arriving – whether you have a home charger or rely on refueling, whether you pursue extreme performance or prioritize fuel economy, there is a technology for you. The policy window has closed, but the technology window has just opened. GAC's "Xingyuan Power" is not only a declaration of Chinese hybrid technology but also a "no-need-to-settle" mobility answer for Hong Kong users.