Arcfox, the electric-vehicle brand backed by BAIC, has opened pre-sales for the 2027 Alpha S5 fastback sedan in China, with prices starting at 121,800 yuan (about $17,200) and rising to 144,800 yuan (about $20,400). The model is offered in three trims, all featuring a rear-mounted electric motor, a standard lidar array and batteries supplied by CATL, according to Chinese outlet 电动邦 (Dian Dong Bang).
Standard equipment across all trims
The 2027 Alpha S5 comes with a 192-line lidar mounted on the roof, paired with a vision system developed by Zhuyu, a Huawei-affiliated autonomous driving unit. The car's ADAS suite includes urban NOA (city advanced driver assistance) covering 13 scenarios such as traffic-light starts, pedestrian yielding and obstacle avoidance, plus highway NOA with six functions including lane changes and ramp merging. Parking assistance covers eight scenarios, including remote and cross-floor memory parking.
All versions use CATL cells and support an 800-volt architecture with 5C fast charging, which the company says can replenish the battery from 30% to 80% in 8.9 minutes and add 560 km of range in 15 minutes. The entry trim offers a CLTC-rated range of 650 km, while the top trim reaches 750 km on the CLTC cycle, which is roughly 15-20% more optimistic than the WLTP standard, so an equivalent WLTP figure would be around 550-640 km (est.).
The motor produces a peak output of 227 kW (about 305 hp), and the car has a top speed of 180 km/h. Arcfox says the body has a torsional rigidity of 51,897 N·m/deg, which it claims is the highest in its class, and that high-strength steel and aluminum account for 81.6% of the body structure.
Design and interior upgrades
The 2027 model adds a new "Champion Red" paint color developed with Nippon Paint, inspired by the Cygnus nebula. Seven exterior colors and three interior options are available. Inside, the car features a 19-speaker 7.1.4-channel audio system, a 68-inch AR head-up display, and front seats with heating, ventilation, memory, 8-point massage and a 128-degree zero-gravity recline function for the passenger side. A 148-liter front trunk is new for this model year.
The Alpha S5 measures 4,886 mm long, 1,930 mm wide and 1,480 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,900 mm. It uses a rear-wheel-drive layout with a near 50:50 weight distribution and comes with frequency-selective damping (FSD) variable shock absorbers, tuned jointly with Magna, which also handles manufacturing at its plant in China.
Pre-sale customers who put down a 2,000 yuan deposit through the Arcfox app or mini-program receive a benefits package valued at 18,800 yuan, including a lifetime warranty on the electric drive system, a battery replacement policy if degradation exceeds limits within 8 years or 160,000 km, a charging pile discount voucher worth 4,999 yuan, and three years of unlimited entertainment data. The company says the car has already started arriving at dealerships.