HiPhi has eliminated some premium features on the new variant of the HiPhi Z, thereby bringing down the starting price significantly.

(Image credit: HiPhi)

Chinese premium electric vehicle (EV) maker Human Horizons' HiPhi brand has launched a new variant for its second model, the HiPhi Z, that eliminates some premium features, allowing the starting price to be lowered by RMB 100,000 yuan ($13,700).

HiPhi on Saturday rolled out the new variant for the HiPhi Z that it called the City version, including a five-seater and a four-seater version, with a starting price of RMB 510,000 ($69,810) and RMB 530,000, respectively.

The HiPhi Z, which was initially launched at the Chengdu auto show on August 26, 2022, is the second model under the HiPhi brand after the HiPhi X. It was previously offered in two versions with a starting price of RMB 610,000 and RMB 630,000, respectively.

The less expensive HiPhi Z is currently available at HiPhi stores in China, with deliveries starting at launch, according to the brand.

The HiPhi Z City version removes some premium features over the pricier version, such as the ISD (Intelligent Signal Display) interactive lights located at the front, rear, and sides of the car, and covers the areas with black trim.

The new model is powered by a smaller capacity 90.18-kWh battery offering a CLTC range of 535 kilometers.

Its two more expensive versions offer 120-kWh and 94.277-kWh capacity battery packs with three CLTC range options of 705 km, 655 km and 560 km.

HiPhi, the homegrown Chinese brand with the highest vehicle price tag to date, released its first model, the HiPhi X, in October 2020, with deliveries of the model beginning in May 2021.

The HiPhi X starts at RMB 570,000 for the six-seat version and up to RMB 800,000 for the four-seat version.

HiPhi launched the HiPhi Y on July 15, the company's third model after the ultra-luxurious HiPhi X and HiPhi Z, and its least expensive to date. Deliveries of the model began on July 29.

There are currently four variants of the HiPhi Y available with a starting price of RMB 339,000, RMB 369,000, RMB 399,000 and RMB 449,000 respectively.

One day after releasing the HiPhi Z City edition, HiPhi announced on Weibo that it will unveil a new super flagship model at next month's Guangzhou auto show, which will be priced in the RMB 1 million range.

A teaser video released by HiPhi suggests that the model could be a performance variant of the HiPhi Z.

Due to the high pricing of its first two models, HiPhi doesn't see high monthly sales like other mass-market oriented brands.

The HiPhi Y delivered 1,556 units in September, up 52.4 percent from August, according to figures released by HiPhi on October 1, which did not release its overall deliveries for September.

($1 = RMB 7.3060)

HiPhi raises prices of 2 HiPhi Y variants by $1,370 each