Everything we know about the Xpeng G9 as of March 2022 [Update]

Update: ‘Interior’ and ‘Release Date’ sections updated.

In November 2021, Xpeng Motors announced the expansion of its product line-up with its second SUV – the Xpeng G9. Unveiled at Auto Guangzhou 2021, the G9 is the brand’s fourth model, and it is bigger and more advanced than the Xpeng G3i. Here’s everything we know about the Tesla Model Y rival that is to launch this year.

Design

The Xpeng G9 unmistakably looks like an SUV version of the Xpeng P7 sedan. At the front, it features the signature full-width, ultra-slim DRL strip on the top, separate headlights, which integrate two LiDAR sensors, a smooth mask in place of a traditional radiator grille, a mesh-pattern lower air intake, and an elegantly designed bonnet.

The Xpeng G9 has strong hints of the P7’s design, especially the headlamps. Image Source: Xpeng Motors

From the sides, the G9 has a sleek greenhouse, neatly designed door panels with smooth surfacing and flush-fit handles, and chunky five-spoke 21-inch alloy wheels. At the rear, the G9 again mimics the looks of the P7, with full-width tail lamps and block-lettered ‘XPENG’ branding. However, the tail lamps look bigger on the SUV.

The Xpeng G9 will feature a new brand logo, and it will be the first to get it. The existing models, namely the G3i, P7, and P9, will adopt the new brand identity beginning in the year’s second half.

Interior

New interior spy shots emerged on cnbeta on March 27, 2022, reveal the dashboard layout of the Xpeng G9 quite clearly. There’s a lot of digital real estate upfront: a sizeable digital cluster, a central infotainment screen, and a third screen for the co-driver. The center console houses two bottle holders and two wireless smartphone charging decks. There appears to be more storage space under the center console, USB type A and C charging ports, and a 12V power socket.

The Xpeng G9 features an interior that is a step-up from the P7. Image Source: Weibo (via CnEVPost)

The layout of the screens is different compared to the Xpeng P7. The sedan gets dual screens upfront—one for the cluster and another for infotainment—housed in a single panel. Xpeng has gone one step ahead on the G9 by offering the third screen.

Noteworthy features include two-spoke steering with physical touch buttons, ambient lighting, and an upright windscreen. The G9 will be a 5-seater medium to large-sized SUV, said CEO He Xiaopeng, during the brand’s Q4 2021 earnings call. Six- or seven-seater configurations will not be available even as options.

Platform

Xpeng Motors wants to amplify its presence in China’s mid-to high-segment EV market. The Xpeng G3 is a compact SUV, while the Xpeng G9 is a mid-size SUV. The company’s ‘David’ platform allows generating EVs with wheelbases of 2,600 mm to 2,800 mm. The ‘Edward’ platform is for spacious cars with wheelbases ranging from 2,800 mm to 3,100 mm. The Xpeng G3 and Xpeng P5 sit on the David platform, while the Xpeng P7 and Xpeng G9 ride on the Edward platform.

The Xpeng G9 shares the company’s Edward platform with the Xpeng P7. Image Source: Xpeng Motors/HKEX

Performance & Range

For now, Xpeng states is that the G9 boasts the company’s new-generation XPower 3.0 powertrain system with China’s first 800-volt mass-production SiC platform. The G9 has a peak DC charging power support for up to 480 kW, and charging it for just five minutes will give a range of up to 200 km. It features the X-EEA 3.0 Electronic and Electrical architecture.

The top-end configuration of the new Xpeng SUV could have a twin-motor AWD powertrain generating at least 316 kW (430 PS/424 hp) of power and 655 Nm of torque and be capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in under five seconds. Expect a WLTP range of more than 500 km or 311 miles.

According to a CnEVPost report, one of the battery packs of the G9 will consist of Sunwoda-manufactured 4C power cells. The report suggests that 4C could be short for a fast-charging time of 15 minutes (a quarter of an hour). Xpeng Motors had said when it unveiled the G9 that it could accommodate a 100 kWh battery pack with a power density of 2.2 kW/kg, as per the report. Sunwoda will be the primary supplier in one of the G9 configurations, supplying more than 50% of the content, as per the report. For its part, Xpeng Motors has denied the rumors about changing its supplier.

Features

Xpeng Motors has confirmed that it will offer the G9 features like XPILOT 4.0, 5G connectivity, firmware OTA upgrades, and 21-inch wheels. G9 is the company’s first model with XPILOT 4.0 and China’s first model implementing a Gigabit Ethernet communications architecture. XPILOT 4.0 will enable full-scenario-assisted driving from vehicle start-up to parking. Thanks to the Gigabit Ethernet communications architecture, a firmware OTA upgrade will take as little as just half an hour.

The G9 debuts the XPILOT 4.0 advanced driver assistance system. At the premiere, Xpeng listed Advanced Driver Assistance, Intelligent-voice vehicle control, and Smart scenarios as features grouped under ‘Intelligent Application Platform.’ Image Source: Xpeng Motors

For the Xpeng P5, Xpeng Motors sources the LiDAR from Da Jiang Innovations, a Chinese company globally acclaimed for drones and widely known simply as DJI. He Xiaopeng, co-founder, Chairman, and CEO, Xpeng Motors, suggested during the Q1 2021 earnings conference call that the LiDAR for the new Xpeng SUV may come from another company.

The LIDAR we use on P5 is actually DJI, Da-Jiang, and we what — we are very open to other options, so by 2022 to 2023 the new models that we are launching may adopt different brands that make — that produce LiDARs.

He Xiaopeng, co-founder, Chairman, and CEO, Xpeng Motors (Q1 2021 earnings conference call)

Built on a new-generation hardware platform, XPILOT 4.0 will have a significantly higher perception capability and deliver full-scenario driver assistance. The fourth version of Xpeng Motor’s driving assistance system will have 508 TOPS ECU computing power. Two NVIDIA Drive Orin autonomous driving SoCs, an eight million-pixel front-view binocular camera and 2.9 million-pixel side-view cameras, and a highly integrated and expandable domain controller will be part of the new hardware.

On a side note, Xpeng Motors is working on XPILOT 5.0 as well. The fifth version will mark the shift from advanced assisted driving to autonomous driving. The company has finished the overall structural design of XPILOT 5.0, but we don’t expect a commercial launch for another two years.

Meets international standards

Xia Heng, Co-founder and President of Xpeng Motors, has said that the G9 is the company’s first model developed with international markets in mind right from the start. It will be responsible for the company’s brand development and growth, Heng added. For design and other aspects of the product, the company took the preferences and needs in overseas markets into account during its development.

Xpeng G9 is the first model of Xiaopeng Motors that was launched for domestic and international markets at the beginning of its development. It also shows the determination of Xiaopeng Motors to move towards internationalization.

Xia Heng, Co-founder and President, Xpeng Motors (Xpeng G9 world premiere)

Xpeng Motors has kept the requirements of international safety standards in mind while developing the G9. The new electric SUV complies with the C-NCAP and E-NCAP 5-star safety design standards and the stringent EU WVTA vehicle certification standards. Chinese vehicles are getting better at safety with each passing launch, and Nio’s ES8, which received a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating in September 2021, is an example of the progress so far. The maximum score should be Xpeng Motors’ target for the G9.

Using eco-friendly materials in vehicles is a good step, but a growing concern is also what happens to the car at the end of its life. Xpeng Motors says that the G9 meets the EU 3R certification’s requirements. It has a reusability rate of over 85% and a recyclability rate of over 95%. It should be possible to reuse most of the vehicle in this case.

Release Date

Xpeng is yet to confirm, but pre-orders of the G9 are expected to begin in April 2022, as per Chinese media reports. Customer deliveries will reportedly begin in the second half of this year, beginning with small-scale deliveries in August, and large-scale deliveries in September. CEO He Xiaopeng stated during the brand’s Q4 2021 earnings conference call that the pilot production vehicle successfully rolled off the line and launch is set for the third quarter of 2022. Expect the European launch of the Xpeng G9 to take place (in markets such as Norway) a few months after the Chinese market entry.

Xpeng says that it has designed the G9 for C-NCAP and E-NCAP (Euro NCAP) Dual 5-star safety standards. It has also built the vehicle for EU WVTA certification standards. Image: Xpeng Motors

Price

The prices of the G9, the flagship Xpeng product that also debuts the new brand identity, could start at around CNY 250,000 (EUR 34,903) after subsidy. That’d make it cheaper than the Tesla Model Y, which starts at CNY 276,000 (EUR 38,533) after subsidy.

Xpeng G9 FAQs

What is the Xpeng G9 release date?

Customer deliveries in China are to begin in the third quarter (July-Sept 2022), followed by European markets.

Which SUVs will be the Xpeng G9’s rivals?

The Xpeng G9 should compete with the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

What will be the Xpeng G9 price?

Prices could start at around CNY 250,000 (EUR 34,903).

Featured Image Source: Xpeng Motors

Keyword: Everything we know about the Xpeng G9 as of March 2022 [Update]