On March 3, iCAR and Horizon Robotics jointly held a technical conference on intelligent driving, fully showcasing for the first time the assisted driving capabilities of the new mass-produced model iCAR V27 equipped with Horizon's HSD (Horizon SuperDrive™, a full-scenario assisted driving system). Dr. Su Jun, General Manager of the iCAR Brand Business Unit, and Dr. Yu Kai, Founder and CEO of Horizon Robotics, appeared at the event to jointly interpret real-road testing performance of this family-oriented rugged SUV in complex multi-city scenarios. The human-like, smooth driving performance demonstrated leading "first-tier" standards.
Flagship Computing Power and True End-to-End Architecture Create "The Pinnacle of Box-Shaped Vehicle Intelligence" The iCAR V27 is equipped with Horizon's Journey 6P chip, delivering a single-chip computing power of 560 TOPS, paired with 27 high-precision sensors including lidar. This enables the vehicle to see farther, react faster, and make more accurate decisions. Horizon's self-developed next-generation BPU Nash architecture is deeply optimized for real-time inference of Transformer models, ensuring innate integration of the chip and algorithms. Innovative memory and control systems significantly enhance data processing efficiency, reduce system latency, and enable continuous learning. Ample computational redundancy reserves space for long-term OTA upgrades, achieving "leading at launch and remaining relevant for five years."
The hardware is not basic, and the software is even less so. Utilizing China's first mass-produced true end-to-end architecture, Horizon's HSD has been hailed by the industry as the "Chinese version of FSD." If traditional rule-based algorithms resemble mechanical splicing of different control modules, the true end-to-end approach achieves ultra-low latency from photon input to trajectory output, akin to an experienced driver behind the wheel. The system responds 42% faster than the average human reaction time, allowing quicker responses to sudden situations. Deep coupling of longitudinal and lateral control in the end-to-end architecture reduces undesirable behaviors such as light braking, hard braking, and "weaving" by over 90%, minimizing motion sickness. Lane changes, cornering, and obstacle avoidance are executed more fluidly and seamlessly.
Trained on vast amounts of data from "chauffeur-level" drivers, the iCAR V27 equipped with Horizon HSD possesses advanced predictive and defensive driving capabilities. It can navigate complex traffic environments with ease, balancing safety and efficiency.
Bidding Farewell to Scenario Anxiety: "Drivable on Any Road, Smooth in City and Wilderness" Leading technical parameters must ultimately be tested in real-road conditions. The HSD end-to-end architecture grants the iCAR V27 strong generalization capabilities that do not rely on high-definition maps or require city-specific tuning. Regardless of location, users can enjoy a consistent intelligent driving experience nationwide upon delivery. Advanced reinforcement learning algorithms and VLM model integration empower HSD with robust scene understanding and generalization abilities, enabling it to interpret complex scenarios such as tidal flow lanes, sequential U-turns, and construction warnings like a human driver. Even in unfamiliar situations, the system can quickly comprehend the environment and formulate reasonable strategies.
This capability also enables the iCAR V27 to support a "roaming mode" for autonomous planning without maps or predefined routes, truly achieving "drivable on any road, smooth in city and wilderness." In daily commuting scenarios, the iCAR V27 demonstrated stable car-following and smooth stops and starts without any interventions during extreme evening rush hour congestion in Chongqing and Beijing—directly addressing users' daily commuting pains. In complex situations like lane cutting, mixed traffic, and pedestrian crossings, HSD's human-like prediction and dynamic decision-making allow the vehicle to respond flexibly for safer travel.
Real-road testing in Chongqing's Hongyadong tourist area showcased HSD's ability to handle extreme scenarios. Whether navigating nighttime traffic flows, narrow mountain roads, or complex underground tunnel networks, the vehicle dynamically assessed situations, selected optimal paths, and traversed confidently with smooth acceleration and deceleration, much like a local expert driver.
During long-distance journeys and off-road excursions, the iCAR V27 performs with equal ease. From winding mountain roads in Lijiang to unmapped rural paths, the system can execute automated lane changes on highways, navigate on/off ramps, and achieve autonomous cruising and path planning on unpaved surfaces. Despite its nearly 5-meter box-shaped body, the vehicle offers one-touch automated parking with a 97% success rate, averaging just 32 seconds per maneuver, allowing even novice drivers to park with confidence.
Powerful Collaboration Breaks Category Boundaries, Setting a New Benchmark for Intelligent Rugged SUVs The iCAR V27 is set for nationwide launch on March 13, marking the first application of Horizon HSD in the rugged "box-shaped" vehicle category. Leveraging HSD's top-tier intelligent driving capabilities, the 5-meter family-oriented rugged SUV breaks the stereotype of "emphasizing off-road performance over intelligence," creating differentiated competitiveness and defining a new benchmark for intelligent box-shaped vehicles.
With the official launch of the iCAR V27, Horizon's HSD mass-production lineup gains another significant model, continually expanding its intelligent driving footprint. Through its unique "hardware-software integration" approach, Horizon continues to assist automakers in developing differentiated products and setting intelligent driving benchmarks across multiple vehicle categories. Currently, HSD has secured partnerships with 10 global automakers for over 20 models. The first HSD-equipped models, the Exeed ET5 and Deepal L06, achieved over 25,000 intelligent driving activations within just 8 weeks of launch, demonstrating scalable mass-production capabilities.
As one of only three players in the industry with mature integrated hardware-software capabilities, Horizon solidifies its intelligent foundation with cutting-edge technology, ensuring every TOPS of computing power translates into tangible user benefits. iCAR, as a distinctive brand in the new energy vehicle era, accurately captures users' dual pursuit of personalized expression and core value. Sharing a common vision for intelligent mobility, the partnership delivers product experiences that exceed expectations.
As Dr. Su Jun and Dr. Yu Kai stated during the technical conference, the value of technology lies not in making machines more powerful, but in making people greater. The goal is to offer users "freedom from technological intrusion"—making HSD a warm, habitual companion that ensures confident departures and safe arrivals.
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