Chinese electric vehicle giant XPeng has officially launched its first range-extending electric (EREV) model, the X9 PowerX. This new version of the company’s popular MPV is poised to disrupt the market by combining a fuel-powered engine with a large battery.
Price Drop to Quickly Enter the Hybrid Market
The starting price for the new X9 Max variant is RMB 309,800 (approximately €37,170). This represents a discount of over 11% compared to the RMB 350,000 announced during the pre-sale period at the beginning of the month.
As expected, the EREV version is significantly cheaper than its all-electric sibling, which starts at RMB 359,800. This aggressive pricing strategy clearly demonstrates XPeng’s intention to immediately capture a significant share of the hybrid MPV market. The higher-end Ultra variant of the series also starts at RMB 329,800, with a similar discount.
The key feature that distinguishes the X9 PowerX from its competitors is its incredible range. With a 60-liter fuel tank and a fully charged battery, the vehicle claims a combined range of 1,602 km, surpassing almost any other vehicle on the road.
The system utilizes a 63.3 kWh LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery pack supplied by CALB, a relatively large capacity for a hybrid system. This large battery gives the X9 an impressive pure electric range (CLTC standard) of 452 km, placing it among the longest-range EREVs on the market.
XPeng designed the vehicle to run on electricity in 90 percent of driving situations, eliminating the need for the range-extending 1.5-liter turbo engine to engage. When needed, the engine efficiently generates energy for the battery, with a maximum power output of 3.6 Wh/l.
The new X9 is built on XPeng’s new Kunpeng Super Electric System and advanced 800V high-voltage architecture. This 800V system enables ultra-fast charging speeds, and the X9 supports 5C charging rates, allowing drivers to add 313 km of range in approximately 10 minutes.
The single-motor, rear-wheel-drive setup delivers respectable performance for a large MPV. The engine produces 210 kW (281 horsepower) and 465 Nm of torque. Thanks to this power, the vehicle accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 8 seconds.
As an MPV, the XPeng X9 stands out with its spacious dimensions and ample cabin space. The vehicle is 5.32 m long, 1.99 m wide, and 1.78 m high. The wheelbase is a generous 3.16 m. Interestingly, the EREV version is 23 mm longer than the all-electric X9, while other dimensions remain the same.
The new X9’s interior utilizes the high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip, typically found in premium EV models. For advanced driver assistance systems, the X9 comes in two trim levels:
- Max Variant: Features a Turing AI chip developed by XPeng with 750 TOPS of computing power.
- Ultra Variant: Features three Turing AI chips, reaching a total power of 2,250 TOPS.
- The X9 EREV represents a strategic turning point for the company. Starting next year, XPeng plans to expand its market reach by offering seven different models with dual powertrain options, both BEV and EREV. This will include range-extending versions of its popular G7 SUV, G6 SUV, and P7+ sedan. The company is clearly focused on opening new sales channels, particularly as it seeks to explore higher-priced segments of the market.
XPeng’s decision to enter the EREV category comes at an interesting time. Although the EREV segment grew by 3.60% year-over-year from January to October, it experienced a decline for the fourth consecutive month in October. Meanwhile, the fully electric car market experienced a surge of over 63% year-over-year in October alone.
