Electric vehicles and luxury minivans are big business in China, so SIAC is combining the two in the all-new Maxus Mifa 9. Billed as the world’s first full-size luxury electric van, the Maxus Mifa 9 promises to provide the “ultimate driving space for users who yearn for green multi-person smart travel.” The exterior design isn’t terribly exciting, but the model features an aggressive front fascia with angular intakes and a slender light bar. Elsewhere, there are chrome accents, aerodynamic wheels and “galaxy halberd fantasy taillights.”
The model is also pretty sizable as it
measures 5270 mm long and has a wheelbase that spans 3200 mm. That means the van is even larger than the Mercedes-Maybach GLS.
While the exterior isn’t remarkable, the same can’t be said about the cabin as
it features a massive widescreen display that spans nearly the entire width of
the cockpit. It’s far from alone as the model can be outfitted with a total of
10 displays including a rear seat entertainment system and screens on the
armrests.
Putting the displays aside, the Maxus Mifa
9 is notable for having six individual seats that feature power adjustment as
well as motorized leg rests for the second- and third-row. All the seats can
also be equipped with heating, ventilation and massage functions. If that
wasn’t impressive enough, putting the model into Space mode will automatically
slide the second- and third-row seats forward to maximize cargo capacity.
Besides the fancy seats, the Maxus Mifa 9
features an intelligent driving assistance system with a narrow road traffic
function that allows for “automatic driving ability” in close quarters. The
model also features point-to-point assisted driving, an automatic lane change
function, emergency avoidance assist and smart parking technology. SIAC also
mentioned a Smart Driving Butler, which apparently adjusts the vehicle to suit
the driver’s behavior.
The Maxus Mifa 9 apparently has a 90 kWh
lithium-ion battery pack, which allows for a range of 520 km.
However, the company announced plans to introduce a long-range variant in 2023
that will offer an “ultra-long cruising range” of more than 404 miles (650 km).
Additional details are limited, but deliveries are slated to begin in May and
the van will also be offered in Europe. In China, pricing starts at ¥ 269,900
(US$ 42,256 / £ 31,424 / € 37,433) for the entry-level Cloud On The Prairie trim and
climbs to ¥ 379,900 (US$ 59,478 / £ 44,231 / € 52,680) for the range-topping Splendid
Mountain Edition.