AION Hyptec HT Review: The Unconventional Hype

What we like:

Gull-winged rear doors

Luxurious, minimalist interior

Large, utilitarian boot space

Plethora of standard creature comforts

What we dislike:

Generic rear facade

Over-reliance on touchscreen tech

No standard Android Auto offering

In the first half of 2025 alone, electric vehicles now make for about 40% of all new car registrations. This is largely due to the multitude of Chinese auto manufacturers, alongside their German counterparts.

VINCAR’s EV division, VINCAR EV, is the authorised distributor of GAC AION. Offering a premium sub-brand above the rest of its models, comes the Hyptec HT, a physical wordplay and abbreviation on ‘Hyper’ and ‘Technology’. Finally, something the GAC marketing and design teams can agree on.

At first glance, the Hyptec HT looks relatively nondescript; save for its non-standard, bright orange exterior and tech-accented bits, such as its diamond studded LED headlights and a full horizontal LED tail light design.

While it looks relatively similar when viewed from the back as the Xpeng G6, the wheelbase at 2,935mm makes it lengthier than said G6 and Tesla’s Model Y, all for good reason once you step inside the car.

However, the Hyptec HT’s true signature move is an audacious and eye-catching act - fully motorised, rear gull wing doors that raise well over 2.3m to allow for easy entry and egress. Thanks to a bevy of 12 built-in sensors, these ensure that the doors safely open without dinging any adjacent parked cars and only require a paltry 34cm of side space to operate safely, thanks to its two-fold design. Surely, a spectacle to behold for when there are onlookers nearby.

Thanks to the lengthy wheelbase, the boot space is a cavernous 672-litre monster; able to gobble two to three medium-large luggages when stacked vertically, along with smaller ancillaries should you wish to store them securely in the boot well, located below the foldable floorboard. Max cargo capacity with the rear seats folded will more than double the capacity to 1,802 litres.

The interior truly impresses; going as far as to rival most European counterparts. The Hyptec features a minimalist environment with a single large, 14.6” centre infotainment touchscreen, an 8” driving display, concealed cubby compartments and a wireless phone charging. Expect to be cosseted by fine, exquisitely-stitched Nappa leather and even authentic wood trimmings once you step inside.

The large centre console screen is the centrepiece of almost everything tech in the car. It controls not just the vehicle’s powertrain characteristics, it provides a myriad of adjustment for everything else - from driving controls, climate, door operation, seat massage functions, and even a pre-installed app for locating charging points. Finally, audio is projected from a 22-speaker system with Dolby Atmos capability.

While it is able to project Apple CarPlay wirelessly, Android users will find beef with the lack of Android Auto in the software. However, this can be circumvented with third-party Android Auto retrofits, which VINCAR EV says, will not hamper with concerns regarding factory warranty.

The rear cabin is like no other in this segment - featuring generous legroom and a split 60:40 rear bench that allows reclination of up to 143 degrees. The back of the seats also feature a compact footrest and rear table set.

Built upon GAC’s latest AEP 3.0 platform, it is future-proofed with a 800V-capable architecture that will support DC charging at a peak 280W, juicing up the 83.3kWh LFP battery from 10% to 70% in a mere 15 minutes; dishing out 350km of possible range while you also recharge with a quick coffee. A full charge, should you wish to, will bring the total available range to slightly over 500km.

While the century sprint is dispatched in just under 6 seconds, thanks to 250kW and 430Nm of torque pouring from the rear wheels; what makes for a nicer driving feel is the rather elliptically sculpted steering wheel, along with a very naturalised one-pedal deceleration feel, which helps ex-ICE converts adopt this EV-centric mode easily.

The ADiGo operating system also incorporates the latest generation of smart driving and safety assistance; proactively launches assisted graphics, screen pop-ups and audio pips to facilitate moving out of tight spaces without the need to second guess. Needless to say, it comes fully equipped with all the typical driving aids you would expect - blind spot warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, etc.

All in all, if you’re looking for a larger, slightly more extravagant, pleasant day to day family hauler with the added capability to impress your clients big time, the Hyptec HT is a definitely the strong stand-out in this segment. However for $30k less, you can still enjoy all the niceties the HT has to offer in Premium trim, without the showboating gull wing doors.

Photos by Aaron Hia

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