The XPeng X9 is arriving.
Soon.
Auto Express confirmed the seven-seat MPV launches imminently. Price? Start at £74,990. That figure feels aggressive given what you get. You are getting an all-electric luxury van. One with up to 382 miles range. One that charges at 542kW. It undercuts the main rival—the Lexus LM—by almost £25,00
Why wait?
There are three trims. Standard Range. Long Range. And an All-Wheel Drive version.
“800-volt architecture capable of replenishing from 10% to 80% in just 12 minutes.”
That is fast. The base model has a front motor pushing 316bhp. Torque sits at 450Nm. Specifications remain vague but Asian specs suggest two batteries. An 84.5kWH LFP unit for the Standard Range car. Or a 101.5kW NMC pack for the Long Range model. Range splits nicely too: 332 miles versus 382 miles.
Then there is the AWD beast. Dual motors. Power jumps to 496bHP. A near-five-metre vehicle hits 62mph in under six seconds. Five-point-nine, specifically. It likely shares the larger battery with the Long Range version. Extra motor weight takes a toll. WLTP range drops slightly to 360 miles.
Starship vs Sedan
XPeng calls this a “starship of tomorrow.” Marketing speak, sure. But they intend it to eat the competition. SUVs like the Hyundai Ioniq9 get noticed. Executive sedans like the BMW i7 feel threatened. The real target, though, is that hybrid Lexus LM.
The LM starts at £97,649.
That puts the top-tier X9 at just under £85,020. It is a bargain. Until you see the kit list, anyway. Details are scarce. We know the colors. Arctic White, Silver Frost, Midnight Black, Graphite Grey. Interiors offer Meteorite Black leather or an optional Moon Shadow Coffee theme. Little else.
This is XPeng’s second move in the UK. The G6 SUV came first. A mid-size answer to Tesla’s Model Y. It launched over eighteen months ago.
The brand plans more cars by 2026.
The L03 is “coming soon.” It aims lower. C-segment SUV territory. Cheaper. Simpler. Maybe.
Wind resistance wins
Design matters for range. XPeng claims the X9 features 17 distinct aero improvements. They cut drag to a sleek 0.27 coefficient. This aerodynamic efficiency helps squeeze those extra miles from the battery. There is a rumor mill humming about a range-extender hybrid. Nothing confirmed for Europe. Just talk.
Inside, the tech leans toward the extravagant.
- Rear-wheel steering keeps the turning circle tiny—10.8 meters, roughly a MINI Cooper.
- Adaptive air-suspension smooths the ride.
- ‘Zero gravity’ seats recline into comfort positions.
- A 23-speaker system floods the cabin.
- A 21.4-inch screen drops from the ceiling for rear passengers. Like a theater screen in a limo.
Practicality has a dark side, though. The rear seats fold flat electrically. One button. Cargo space expands to a cavernous 2,554 liters. That is enough space for twenty-nine carry-on bags. You really don’t want that much room for suitcases in an electric MPV?
The roadmap expands
The X9 arrives while the G6 evolves.
Updated models cost £39,999 through Auto Express Buy-A-Car. This places them alongside the Tesla Model Y. Renault Scenic. Skoda Enyaq. Hyundai Ioniq5. The 2025 G6 gets major upgrades. Charging speeds hit 451kW now. Performance versions launch with 486HP and 4.1 second zero to sixty times.
But wait, there is more.
The P7+ saloon comes too. It will battle the Tesla Model 3 and Volkswagen ID7. The platform architecture remains the same: 800 volts, version 2.0. Tech gets smarter here. Level 2.5 autonomy arrives with XPilot. Driver assistance gets refined. Safety gets prioritized. AI manages the driving assist systems.
So many options.
L03 challenges Nissan Leaf and Skoda Elroqs. G6 sits with Teslas. X9 fights luxury vans.
Where does XPeng stop?
The Chinese brands are flooding in. Fast charging becomes normal. Range anxiety shrinks. Prices stay low. Who needs legacy status when your software outperforms theirs?
The X9 is coming. Lexus might want to worry.
No one said EV vans were boring.
