Not content with producing the G3 – an all-electric ‘Super Long Range Smart SUV’ that emerged in December 2018 looking a lot like the Tesla Model X – Chinese car-maker Xpeng Motors has now launched the Porsche Taycan-fighting P7 electric sports sedan.
While the Xpeng G3 claims an NEDC driving range of 520km, the Guangzhou-based start-up brand’s second production model is said to offer a world record-setting 706km (NEDC) between recharges.
Billed as a “super-long range, high-performance, fast-charging intelligent EV sports sedan”, the Xpeng P7 is now available to order in China, where pricing starts from RMB 229,900 ($US32,462 or $A54,999) post-subsidies.
The P7 will be available in eight configurations across three versions: 4WD High Performance, RWD Super Long Range and RWD Long Range (568km).
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic Xpeng says first deliveries will take place in China by the end of June. However, so far there is no news of a right-hand drive version for export.
“Today is a milestone in the five-year history of Xpeng Motors,” said the company’s chairman and CEO, He Xiaopeng.
“The P7’s launch solidifies Xpeng Motors’ leading position in China’s smart EV market. Our ability to launch the P7 in the challenging conditions of the COVID-19 crisis is a testament to the strength of our young company.”
Although it follows Tesla’s lead of offering over-the-ait software updates to “ensure that the P7 continues to grow and improve as we do”, Xping says its sports sedan EV brings a number of technical breakthroughs.
The Xping P7 is claimed to be the first Level 3 autonomy-ready production vehicle in the Chinese market and the world’s first production model powered by NVIDIA’s DRIVE AGX Xavier system-on-a-chip, delivering 30 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) performance while consuming only 30 Watts of power.
Xping also claims the P7 is the world’s first EV with an Infineon 950 IGBT module, delivering up to 580A to its motor for continuous 40 seconds.
At the heart of the P7 is a compact, light, efficient and reliable high-performance three-in-one electric drive system with world-class motor energy density of 2.0kW/kg and efficiency up to 97.5 per cent, says Xping.
That makes the quickest P7 variant capable of 0-100km/h acceleration in a claimed 4.3 seconds, which is a lot slower than the quickest Taycan (2.8sec) and Tesla Model S (2.6sec), even if its 706km NEDC range eclipses the Tesla’s 600km and Porsche’s 463km (both WLTP).
A CATL high-density slim-profile prismatic 80.9kWh battery pack measures just 110mm thick yet is said to offer energy density of 170Wh/kg, plus fast-charging capability from 30 to 80 per cent in as little as 28 minutes.
Xping says the P7’s chassis employs a new-generation Bosch iBooster braking system that delivers 35-metre 100-0km/h braking distances and 100 per cent energy recovery.
The highlights of today's #XpengP7 launch event. More to come! #NewHorizons pic.twitter.com/HkMZ1XF54y
— XPENG (@XPengMotors) April 27, 2020
Meantime, its XPILOT3.0 autonomous driving system can allegedly navigate China’s challenging roads via the industry’s only 360-degree multi-perception integrated system, comprising 14 cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors and five millimetre-wave radars.
The P7’s sleek and minimalist bodywork, which looks a little like that of a Kia Stinger, is claimed have a market-leading drag coefficient of 0.236Cd, and its voice-controlled cockpit features a “concert hall-standard” 600-Watt Dynaudio surround-sound system.
Other features include a panoramic glass roof, frameless doors, Nappa leather and a low-profile console offering wide-angle views in all directions.
Xpeng says the P7 will be available through its fast-growing Chinese retail network, which already includes 113 outlets across 57 cities. Supercharging stations for the P7 have already number 164 across 35 cities, in addition to 200,000-plus third-party chargers across China.