On April 9th, Huawei warmed up the tech community with an official teaser poster for its upcoming Spring HarmonyOS Connectivity Event. The poster announced the imminent arrival of the Vision S7, complemented by the caption, “Harness the light, make a swift entrance. The Vision S7 is all set to go.”
The reveal promptly earned congratulatory remarks from Xiaomi President Lei Jun on Weibo. In a show of gratitude, the official Weibo account for HarmonyOS Smart Travel (@鸿蒙智行) responded with a post of its own.
This friendly exchange between HarmonyOS Smart Travel and Xiaomi is in sharp contrast with the recent online disputes triggered by Lantu’s indirect criticisms of Xiaomi. Even as Lantu’s announcements alluded to comparisons with Xiaomi’s SU7 model, and a configuration misstatement was pointed out, Lei Jun refrained from addressing the matter. However, the release of the new Vision S7 at Huawei’s HarmonyOS Spring Event on April 11th garnered an open blessing from Lei. This gesture reflects the respect that Lei and Xiaomi hold for the Vision S7 as a formidable competitor, a respect well-earned by the vehicle’s comprehensive strength.
A Grand Slam in Power, Range, and Charging: The Vision S7 Takes the EV Industry by Storm
According to Huawei, the new Vision S7 lineup features four models: Pro, Max, Max+, and Max RS. They all feature the HUAWEI DriveONE 800V high-voltage, silicon carbide power platform. The Pro, Max, and Max+ are rear-wheel drive models equipped with a 215kW permanent magnet synchronous motor that enables an acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds.
The Max RS is a four-wheel drive version with dual motors: a 150kW AC asynchronous motor in the front and the aforementioned rear motor, with a total power of 365kW and torque of 679N·m, accelerating from 0-100 km in just 3.3 seconds. The car benefits from intelligent oil cooling 2.0 technology, allowing for continuous overtaking on uphill stretches or at high speeds without power decay or overheating.
Range anxiety is a non-issue with Vision S7’s new “Giant Whale” 800V high-voltage battery platform. The rear-wheel drive Max model uses a 100kWh battery from CATL, offering a maximum range of up to 855 km. The base model Pro has a range of 550 km, and the four-wheel drive Max RS can travel up to 630 km on a single charge. Beyond that, the platform introduces an innovative horizontal high-voltage box with a highly integrated and simplified circuit design. The battery pack features active warning, millisecond power cut-off, active cooling, and unobstructed exhaust to prevent thermal runaway from spreading between cells. The battery protection system includes ten layers of safety, special triple-layer bottom protection, thickened side collision beams, and high-strength beams at the bottom to safeguard against impacts.
Addressing the decreased winter performance commonly associated with EVs, the new Vision S7 employs Huawei’s TMS intelligent thermal management system. The system uses smart algorithms to control components, optimizing their energy consumption. It can achieve a 50% reduction in energy usage compared to traditional electric heaters, which translates to more available range.
In the realm of EVs, where the aphorism goes, “If it’s not long-ranging, quick-charging or difficult to recharge, it’s of little use,” the Vision S7 excels. It employs an 800V high-voltage fast-charging platform and introduces Huawei’s SuperCharge technology for the first time. Ensuring high safety and longevity, it supports high-rate charging that can replenish the battery from 30% to 80% within just 15 minutes or add 215 km of range in only 5 minutes and 430 km in 15 minutes. A brief coffee break at the charging station is all it takes to continue a long journey without range anxiety.
In terms of charging infrastructure, Vision S7 can achieve instant plug-and-charge, seamless payment at Huawei’s full liquid-cooled supercharging stations and partnered third-party charging stations without the need for scanning QR codes or using third-party apps. Huawei aims to deploy 100,000 such liquid-cooled supercharging stations across the country by the end of 2024, further facilitating rapid charging for its users.
Redefining Smart Electric Mobility, Vision S7 Tops the Autonomous Driving Benchmark
Smart driving is a key area of evolution and national competition in the current automotive market, and Huawei has consistently been a benchmark in technology.
The Vision S7 is equipped with the HUAWEI ADS 2.0 advanced intelligent driving system. Its sensory array includes one lidar, three millimeter-wave radars, eleven high-definition cameras for lateral and frontal/rear vision, and twelve ultrasonic radars. These enable full-scene and all-weather perception of stationary and moving objects, including irregularly shaped items, allowing the vehicle to navigate high-speed roads, urban areas, and parking scenarios without relying on high-precision maps.
In practice, the Vision S7 excels in identifying “ghost” traffic cameras, anticipative braking and maneuvering around large vehicles, automatic stopping and starting at traffic lights, and night-time road perception. The car not only accurately and swiftly recognizes road conditions, but it also responds intelligently and quickly, placing it at the top tier of the industry. The lower-spec Vision S7 Pro is equipped with the basic HUAWEI ADS version, which includes three millimeter-wave radars, ten high-definition cameras, and twelve ultrasonic radars, capable of NCA smart navigation assistance on highways and urban roads nationwide, proficiently handling scenarios like automatic ramp navigation and deviations due to road construction or traffic cones.
It’s Not Just About the Specs, but a Well-Spec’d Car Certainly Delights
It should be clarified that industry and consumer criticism of “spec stacking” refers to certain models that inflate specifications without a strong core product to back them up. Clearly, Vision S7’s robust core technology in electric components is exceptional. Therefore, adding features is a clear bonus.
Let’s discuss some key aspects: The interior design of the Vision S7 takes inspiration from F1 cockpits for its pilot driving system, featuring a three-zone layout comprised of the vision, navigation, and driving zones, complemented by an olive-shaped sport steering wheel and offering an elevated driving visual experience.
In terms of driving dynamics, Vision S7 debuts Huawei’s Tech-Link intelligent chassis. This system integrates a luxury adaptive air suspension system with expert tuning by Huawei’s German research institute. It is supported by a multi-modal perception system, the HUAWEI DATS dynamic adaptive torque system, and the HUAWEI xMotion intelligent body control system. These features allow the vehicle to intelligently respond to various road conditions, ensuring precise steering, stable braking, clear damping, and comfortable riding.
On the smart tech front, Vision S7 will be the first to integrate HarmonyOS 4, offering enhanced interconnected experiences like hands-free KTV singing and a 3D vehicle control desktop. It’s also equipped with a large screen and zero-gravity seats for the co-driver, further enhancing the technological luxury and interactive fun within the cabin.
Certainly, these highlighted features only scratch the surface of what the new Vision S7 has to offer. There are many more upgrades in various areas awaiting discerning consumers to unlock and experience.
Automotive Press Commentary:
On April 11th, Huawei’s Spring HarmonyOS Connectivity Event took place as scheduled. The Vision S7, the flagship intelligent sedan from HarmonyOS Smart Travel, has undergone a comprehensive upgrade. Its capabilities in the pure electric sedan segment are nearly matchless. Given the current intense price wars in the new energy sector, and Huawei’s own cost advantages in self-developed technologies, the new price-setting for the fully-equipped Vision S7 shows a clear commitment to value. In a market where competitors like NIO stand out for charging services, Xiaomi for its popularity, and Jikrypton for its high specifications, each player scores a perfect 100 in its own right. Yet, Vision S7 distinguishes itself as an all-rounder that consistently performs at 90 across all metrics. We welcome the emergence and rise of more Chinese autonomous new energy brands, and as Lei Jun predicted, the Vision S7’s success seems virtually guaranteed.