by A growing number of Chinese electric vehicles are drawing comparisons to the Porsche Taycan, but a new contender might be the most convincing lookalike yet. While Xiaomi’s SU7 has already been called out for its resemblance to the sleek German sports sedan, another EV is preparing to enter the scene that arguably takes it a step further.
This new model, the Z7, is being developed by HIMA and will be sold under the SAIC nameplate, also known domestically as Shangjie.
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For those less familiar, HIMA stands for Harmony Intelligence Mobility Alliance. It’s an initiative led by Chinese tech heavyweight Huawei in partnership with several local automakers including Seres, Chery, BAIC, JAC, and SAIC. Vehicles under this umbrella are marketed through several brands, including Aito, Luxeed, Stelato, Maextro, and SAIC itself.
Does This Look Familiar?
An intriguing teaser image released by HIMA reveals that the new Z7’s side profile will also be the spitting image of a Porsche Taycan. Like the German sedan, the Z7 has a sleek and elegant shape with flush door handles and sculpted rear fenders. The shape of the rear, rear window, and taillights looks like the spitting image of the Taycan’s. Heck, even the doors themselves look exactly like the Porsches.
HIMA released a darkened teaser image hinting at the Z7’s design, and it doesn’t leave much to the imagination. The car’s side profile bears a strong resemblance to the Taycan, right down to its smooth, coupe-like roofline, flush door handles, and pronounced rear fenders.
The tail section, including the rear window and light bar, also mirrors Porsche’s design language so closely it borders on mimicry. Even the door shapes look eerily familiar.
For what it’s worth, there are some differences, at least up front. The Z7’s headlights are styled quite differently, and a prominent LiDAR unit sits just above the windshield, suggesting the car may prioritize advanced driver assistance or autonomous capabilities.
An Estate Variant in the Works Too
Chinese automotive site Autohome has also tracked down a camouflaged prototype of what appears to be an estate version of the Z7. Only one image has surfaced so far, but it’s enough to draw clear parallels with the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo. The overall stance, roofline, and rear proportions seem closely aligned.
No specifications for the Z7 have been released, so it remains to be seen how HIMA plans to position the vehicle. It could go head-to-head with Xiaomi’s SU7 in terms of performance, or it may aim for a higher price point, with a more premium market in mind.
Whatever the case may be, the Z7 will almost certainly undercut the Porsche Taycan in price. The Taycan starts at around 1 million yuan, or more than $140,000. In contrast, the Xiaomi SU7 starts at just 215,900 yuan, roughly $30,000. Expect the Z7 to land somewhere in that range, offering the Taycan’s silhouette at a fraction of the cost.
