Xpeng Motors has begun accepting
pre-orders for its P7 electric sports sedan. Featuring a drag coefficient of
just 0.236, the P7 has a sleek exterior with flowing curves, flush-mounted door
handles and frameless windows. The model also boasts a steeply sloping
panoramic glass roof and an upright rear end.
Moving into the cabin, drivers will find a
digital instrument cluster that flows into a massive touchscreen infotainment
system. The latter features voice recognition technology, an app store and a
Snapdragon 820 processor.
Elsewhere, the model has a two-spoke
steering wheel with a camera that ensures you are paying attention to the road.
There’s also ambient lighting, a premium audio system and optional Nappa
leather seats. The model also has a minimalist design as it largely eschews
switchgear.
Xpeng didn’t release detailed performance
specifications, but the P7 has a 80.9 kWh battery pack and rear- or all-wheel
drive. The entry-level rear-wheel drive variant has a range of 568
km in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), while the “Super-Long Range”
model increases that figure up to 706 km.
Customers can also opt for a dual-motor
performance variant which can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.3
seconds. However, the company declined to mention that variant’s range. When
the battery is low, the P7 can go from a 30% to 80% charge in as little as 28
minutes. The car is also capable of delivering 120 km of range after
10 minutes of charging.
While the powertrain is interesting, the
real coup de grâce is the Level 3 semi-autonomous driving system. Dubbed XPILOT
3.0, the system uses 14 cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 5 millimeter-wave
radars to give the car a detailed look at its surroundings.
The system enables the P7 to drive itself
under certain conditions and the model can also park itself. Xpeng also said
the Level 2 and Level 3 semi-autonomous driving systems operate “concurrently
to provide complete redundancy.”
The P7 is currently available to order in
China and the first deliveries are slated to begin in June. After subsidies,
pricing starts at ¥ 229,900 (US$ 32,442 / £ 26,138 / € 29,975) and climbs to ¥ 339,900
(US$ 47,965 / £ 38,648 / € 44,341) for the performance variant.
