Van Xpeng X9—Spaceship for the Road

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Wuxi InfiMotion Technology Co., Ltd.

The large van X9 from the Chinese electric brand Xpeng breaks the usual standards at an affordable price. However, whether the spaceship will also come to Germany remains questionable.

In China, many things are on a larger scale. This includes the flagship model X9 from electric car manufacturer Xpeng. It is a large van in XL format, 5.30 meters long (approx. 17 ft), with almost 3.20 meters (approx. 10,5 ft) of wheelbase and seven seats. The electric vehicle is offered with both front-wheel and all-wheel drive, starting at the equivalent of only 45,000 euros (51.075 USD) in China. Whether the car will come to Europe, Xpeng has not yet disclosed. And if it does, the prices are expected to be significantly higher, based on past experience.

Highlights of the spaceship include dual-chamber air suspension, all-wheel steering, and two reclining seats in the middle with access to a 10-liter refrigerator. Fresh air is not blown through the cabin via the usual vents but "rains" down like an air curtain from thousands of micro nozzles in the roof.

More Legroom than in the Mercedes GLE

As a special feature, passengers in the rear are supposed to enjoy the same comfort on electrically adjustable and climate-controlled seats as in the second row. The Chinese promise that the legroom is even greater than in the second row of a Mercedes GLE. Additionally, the rear seats can be folded into the floor at the push of a button, providing space for up to five bicycles.

In its home market and other Asian countries, the shuttle with a 2+2+3 seating arrangement and a 7.7 square meter interior has been available since the end of 2023. If the car comes to Europe, it would be the recently significantly revised version, with 35 percent of the components updated. The performance data has not yet been disclosed. It is only known that the all-wheel-drive version, reaching 200 km/h (approx. 124 mph), sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (approx. 62 mph) in 5.7 seconds, while the front-wheel-drive version takes 7.4 seconds. Previously, the single-motor versions were 235 kW. The all-wheel-drive model had an additional rear motor with 135 kW of power.

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Xpeng X9: Facelift Brings more Charging Capacity

The facelift focused primarily on faster charging and efficiency. According to the manufacturer, the large van now consumes only 16.2 kWh/100 kilometers and can store energy for about 400 kilometers (approx. 248 miles) of range in ten minutes with an 800-volt system. Two battery packs with 94 or 105 kWh capacity are available, and the Chinese claim a range of 509 kilometers (approx. 316 miles) according to WLTP. Xpeng plans to supply the necessary charging stations as well.

The onboard electronics of the X9 are also designed for Vehicle-to-Load. Through a 230-V onboard network, passengers can charge laptops on the go or connect other devices during a break. Given the output power of five kW, the onboard network is unlikely to falter even with an electric grill.

AI for Chassis, ADAS, and Voice Control

Otherwise, Xpeng includes just about everything that is supposed to make long journeys comfortable. For example, a streaming- and gaming-capable entertainment system with 23 speakers and a huge screen that folds out from the roof. To curb the playfulness of the kids in the back, the entire system can be locked and only controlled via voice from the driver's seat.

With its air suspension and nine centimeters of travel, the Chinese rely on AI technology. It is intended to control, among other things, the response behavior of the dampers. Artificial intelligence is also used in the vehicle's voice control and the assistance system, providing support, for example, in parking or highway mode when driving automatically at Level 3.

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