Xpeng X9

PACE 2025: Check out the Mazda CX-60, Kia Sportage, Xpeng G6 and more at Bermaz’s stand – great deals

In Cars, Electric Cars in Malaysia, Local News, Xpeng / By Jonathan James Tan / 19 July 2025 3:35 pm / 1 comment

Bermaz Auto has a prominent tri-brand booth at the ongoing paultan.org Premium Auto Car Expo (PACE) 2025, July 19-20, Setia City Convention Centre, and you absolutely need to stop by to check out the best of what Mazda, Kia and Xpeng have to offer.

Get up close with the Mazda CX-60, the upcoming flagship SUV that’s already open for booking in Malaysia at an estimated price of just over RM200k. A 2.5 litre four-cylinder engine sends 191 PS and 261 Nm of torque to the back wheels via an eight-speed auto. You get goodies such as 20-inch alloys, a panoramic sunroof, a hands-free powered tailgate, 12 Bose speakers, eight airbags and full ADAS.

Joining the CX-60 on the show floor is the MX-5, a modern classic, while test drives are also available for the Mazda 3, CX-30 as well as the turbo petrol and turbodiesel variants of the CX-5. Book a CX-5 at PACE 2025 or by August 31 and you’ll get a free 4D3N Japan trip (flights and accommodation for one included) which includes a Mazda Heritage Museum tour – a must-see for Mazda fans.

Moving on to Kia, you’ll bask in the presence of the Sportage and EV9. The Sportage can be had with a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated engine (154 hp/192 Nm, six-speed auto) or a 1.6 litre turbo-four (177 hp/265 Nm, seven-speed DCT), and there’s even an AWD with differential lock option for the range-topping 1.6T.

Kit highlights include full ADAS, 18-inch wheels, projector LED headlamps, a powered tailgate, two 12.3-inch screens and eight Harman Kardon speakers. Book a Sportage at PACE 2025 for a special rebate and a chance in Bermaz Auto’s bonanza dip with prizes worth RM180,000 up for grabs!

Meanwhile, the EV9 is a true head-turner. The large EV SUV comes in six- and seven-seat flavours, both in GT-Line guise and with a 385 PS/700 Nm two-motor AWD setup. A 99.8-kWh lithium-ion battery yields a 505 km WLTP range, and you’ll get from 10-80% in 24 minutes at 350 kW DC. And how about 14 Meridian speakers and cameras instead of side mirrors?

Last but not least, there’s the Xpeng G6 SUV and X9 MPV. You can have the G6 in Standard Range (66 kWh LFP, 435 km WLTP) and Long Range (87.5 kWh NMC, 570 km WLTP) flavours. Both are one-motor RWD and top out at 200 km/h – the Standard Range packs 259 PS and 440 Nm of torque for a 6.6-second 0-100 km/h time, while the Long Range has 286 PS and 440 Nm of torque for a 6.2-second century sprint time.

Charging? Both variants can swallow up to 11 kW AC, while the max DC rates are 215 kW for the Standard Range and 280 kW for the Long Range (this gets you from 10-80% in 20 minutes). Vehicle-to-load (V2L) turns your G6 into a massive powerbank, so you can really enjoy those camping trips.

Want a G6? PACE 2025 is the place to get one, because you’ll take home a free 11 kW AC wallbox charger worth RM5,000 (including basic installation charges) if you plump for the Long Range. You’ll also get RM5,000 savings on your insurance premium. How’s that for a five-plus-five deal?

Or maybe you want seven seats – the Xpeng X9 is where inner space meets outer space. Like the G6, the MPV is an 800-volt EV and charges from 10-80% in as little as 20 minutes, regardless of whether you go for the Standard Range 2WD Pro (84.5 kWh LFP, 500 km WLTP), the Long Range 2WD Pro or the Long Range 2WD Pro Plus (both 101.5 kWh NMC, 590 km WLTP).

No matter the variant, you get dual-chamber air suspension, rear-wheel steering (up to five degrees), 20-inch wheels, auto headlamps and wipers, acoustic glass, a panoramic glass roof, a powered tailgate and 3.3 kW V2L. You’ll also find a 10.25-inch instrument panel, 17.3-inch touch-screen, dual 50-watt wireless chargers, 12-way powered seats (with memory, heating, ventilation and massage) and headrest speakers for the driver.

If you’re one of the first 200 people to book a new vehicle at PACE 2025, you’ll receive RM3,000 worth of vouchers from our supporting partners (including Solar Gard, Dodomat, The Carage, Kuzig Glanz, Gintell and DK Schweizer) and enter a lucky draw which could win you anything from 10 smartphones worth RM3,500 each to the grand prize of a holiday package for two worth RM25,000!

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2025 Xpeng X9 facelift globally unveiled – up to 740 km CLTC, soft-close front doors, RR-like self-level hubs

In Cars, Global Car Launches, International News, Xpeng / By Jonathan James Tan / 16 April 2025 12:29 pm / 4 comments

We’re coming to you from Hong Kong, where Xpeng chose to give the X9 MPV facelift its global launch last night. We know what you’re thinking – the EV MPV has just launched in Malaysia and now there’s an update already? Let’s look at the changes; you can be the judge if they’re extensive enough to ruffle buyers’ feathers.

China gets four variants – Long Range Max (650 km range, RMB359,800 or RM217k), Ultra Long Range Max (740 km range, RMB379,800 or RM229k), AWD Performance Max (702 km range, RMB399,800 yuan or RM241k) and the Starship Edition (702 km range, RMB419,800 or RM253k). All ranges quoted are CLTC. Battery choices for the 800V vehicle are 105 kWh NMC or 94.8 kWh LFP.

Xpeng’s Turing AI-powered ADAS is now standard across the range. At the event, left- (LHD) and right-hand drive (RHD) versions were displayed, representative of mainland China- and Hong Kong-market vehicles. There are some differences between them which we’ll get to as we go along.

Appearance-wise, very little has changed. There is an added decorative bar in each front bumper side cutout and lighted-up XPENG lettering above the rear LED strip. The Chinese-market LHD car has new alloys (still 20s) with multi spokes and Rolls-Royce-like self-levelling hub badges; however, the HK-market car soldiers on with the existing turbine design.

Other new additions on the Chinese-market car that were seemingly absent from the HK-market ones on display include soft-closing front doors, third-row ISOFIX for both outer seats (HK carries over pre-facelift’s ISOFIX on only one outer seat in the third row) and middle-row physical switches for the windows and ceiling screen. The HK car carries over the previous touch-sensitive panel.

However, both cars now have their fridge door wrapped in soft-touch material (previously hard plastic), and the middle-row zero-gravity seats have been redesigned – with the pre-facelift, you couldn’t walk between them to the third row (only the slimmer aviation seats allowed you to do that), but now you can.

Retained are niceties such as the power-folding third row, rear-wheel steering and dual-chamber air springs, but there’s now an AI-optimised 6D comfortable anti-motion sickness algorithm to minimise body roll and pitch. NVH has been enhanced as well.

The X9 facelift also brings with it new colours – Nebula Purple, Galaxy Blue and Matte Starship Gray – that join the existing Starship Gray, Nebula White, New Moon Silver and Midnight Black.

2025 Xpeng X9 facelift Chinese-market LHD

2025 Xpeng X9 facelift Hong Kong-market RHD

2025 Xpeng X9 facelift general and official images

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2025 Xpeng X9 launched in Malaysia – from RM271k; up to 590 km WLTP EV range; Alphard/Vellfire rival

In Cars, Electric Cars in Malaysia, Local Car Launches, Local News, Xpeng / By Gerard Lye / 5 March 2025 5:46 pm / 26 comments
The Xpeng X9 has been launched in Malaysia to compete against other electric MPVs in the market such as the Denza D9 and Zeekr 009, as well as the established Toyota Alphard and Vellfire. This is the second electric vehicle (EV) being offered by local distributor Bermaz Xpeng after the G6 that went on sale last August.

Built on the brand’s Smart Electric Platform Architecture 2.0 (SEPA 2.0) with an 800V electrical architecture, the fully-imported (CBU) X9 measures 5,293 mm long, 1,988 mm wide, 1,785 mm tall and has a wheelbase spanning 3,160 mm. That makes it larger than both Toyota’s MPVs and comparable in size to 009 and D9, although the Zeekr has the longer wheelbase.

Pricing for the X9 starts from RM270,708 on-the-road without insurance for the base Standard Range 2WD Pro, which is one of three variants being offered. The other two are the Long Range 2WD Pro at RM288,708 and Long Range 2WD Pro Plus at RM300,708. You can order the MPV in Crescent Silver, Dark Night Black and Nebula White, with the interior offered in either Starry Night Black or Moon Shadow Brown.

Regardless of which variant you go for, the X9 comes standard with a front electric motor rated at 320 PS (315 hp or 235 kW) and 450 Nm of torque. This is good for a 0-100 km/h time of 7.7 seconds and top speed of 200 km/h. The variants differ in terms of battery chemistry, energy capacity and charging times, which we’ve simplified into a list form:

Standard Range 2WD Pro
- Battery: 84.5-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP)
- Range (WLTP): 500 km
- AC charging: 11 kW; 5-100% in 9.5 hours
- DC charging: 283 kW; 10-80% in 20 minutes
Long Range 2WD Pro and Long Range 2WD Pro Plus
- Battery: 101.5-kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC)
- Range (WLTP): 590 km
- AC charging: 11 kW; 5-100% in 11 hours
- DC charging: 317 kW; 10-80% in 20 minutes
The X9 variants are pretty identical when it comes to equipment, with all of them coming standard with dual-chamber air springs, rear-wheel steering (up to five degrees), 20-inch wheels, automatic LED headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, acoustic glass, a panoramic glass roof, a powered tailgate and a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system capable of delivering 3.3 kW.

In the frontmost driver compartment, you’ll find a leather steering wheel, dual 50W air-cooled wireless phone charging pads, 12-way powered seats (with memory, heating, ventilation and massage functions) and headrest speakers for the driver. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chipset powers the software systems that are displayed on the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and 17.3-inch central infotainment touchscreen.

Of course, the main draw of the X9 is life in the second row, which feature aviation seats that have 10-way adjustment. As with the front seats, you’ll get to enjoy heating, ventilation, memory and massage functions, with further niceties being deployable tray tables, a refrigerator and a 21.4-inch ceiling display with a remote control.

Keep in mind that the aviation seats are the default for the Standard Range 2WD Pro and Long Range 2WD Pro, with the top-spec Long Range 2WD Pro Plus sporting fancier zero gravity seats. These are enhanced with 18-way adjustment, a one-touch ‘zero gravity mode’ and individual 50W air-cooled charging pads. You’ll have to give up the central walkthrough to the third row if you go with the Plus.

For those in the third row, getting in is made convenient thanks to a one-touch easy entry and exit system, with the electric adjustment available for the backrest and headrest. When not maximising the 2-2-3 seat layout, the third row can be folded away using switches in the boot compartment, which offers 755 litres of space with all seats in their normal positions, or 2,554 litres with the rearmost seats folded.

All passengers will get to enjoy multi-colour ambient lighting, a 23-speaker XOpera audio system with 2,180W of amplification as well as a five-zone climate control system with ceiling vents, CN95 air filtration and negative ion generator. Premium leather is the upholstery of choice for all variants except the Plus, which gets full-grain Nappa leather along with a fragrance system.

2025 Xpeng X9 spec sheet; click to enlarge

On the safety and driver assistance front, all X9 variants come with six airbags, the usual mix of passive systems (ABS, EBD, traction control, stability control), an electronic parking brake (with auto hold function), ISOFIX child seat anchors), a tyre pressure monitor as well as hill start and hill descent assist.

XPilot 2.5 functions are powered by Nvidia’s Drive Orin-X chipset capable of 254 TOPS that is linked to three millimetre-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 12 cameras. Together, they enable a wide range of functions such as adaptive cruise control with adaptive turning cruise, lane centring control, speed limit assist, Enhanced Auto Parking Assist, Auto Exit Parking Assist, forward collision monitoring, autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition and blind spot monitoring.

The list continues with traffic sign recognition, automatic high beam, driver status monitoring, door open warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, emergency lane keeping, rear collision warning and rear cross traffic alert. A 360-degree camera is also included, which contributes to the X9’s “transparent chassis” feature.

2025 Xpeng X9 price list; click to enlarge

Once again, the X9 retails for RM270,708 for the Standard Range 2WD Pro and rises to RM288,708 for the Long Range 2WD Pro and RM300,708 for the Long Range 2WD Pro Plus. For an extra RM4,300, you can add a 7-kW home charger (including installation) or RM5,000 for an 11-kW charger.

You can order the MPV in Crescent Silver, Dark Night Black and Nebula White, with the interior offered in either Starry Night Black or Moon Shadow Brown. A five-year, 120,000-km manufacturer warranty; five-year, 100,000-km free scheduled maintenance and eight-year, 160,000-km battery and motor warranty are included with each purchase.

Compared to the competition, the X9, like the D9 and 009, costs considerably less than the Toyota Alphard (RM548,000) and Vellfire (RM448,000). Among the Chinese brands, the X9’s starting price is more than the D9 that goes for between RM259,000 and RM309,000 (across two variants), while the 009 is more expensive from RM349,800 to RM359,800 (also across two variants). Would you pick the X9 out of the bunch? Let us know in the comments below.

2025 Xpeng X9 Long Range 2WD Pro Plus

2025 Xpeng X9 Long Range 2WD Pro

GALLERY: 2025 Xpeng X9 brochure and price list
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Xpeng X9 ROI open in Malaysia – Toyota Alphard, Vellfire, Zeekr 009, Denza D9 rival launching soon

In Cars, Electric Cars in Malaysia, Local News, Xpeng / By Jonathan Lee / 4 March 2025 11:57 am / 7 comments

The Xpeng X9 is one step closer to its Malaysian launch, with registrations of interest now open on the official website. The futuristic luxury electric MPV was previewed just last January and is set to compete with the Denza D9 and Zeekr 009, as well as the all-conquering petrol-powered Toyota Alphard and Vellfire.

Interestingly, the ROI form also included the option to place a booking, hinting that a launch will be happening very soon. Expect the X9 to be sold here in a similar form to Thailand – specs of the car have been revealed ahead of its official launch in the Land of Smiles, with just a single Luxury variant being offered there.

Power comes from a single front motor that produces 320 PS (235 kW) and 450 Nm of torque, enough to get this seven-seater behemoth from zero to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 200 km/h. A 101.5 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery provides a WLTP range of 590 km; the X9 is also available with a smaller 84.5 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack in Hong Kong with a range of 480 km.

Xpeng says the X9 supports “3C fast charging,” meaning that its DC fast charging power is about three times its battery capacity figure – as such, you’re looking at around 300 kW for the 101.5 kWh pack. Charging from 10 to 80% takes 20 minutes. Suspension consists of double wishbones at the front and multilinks at the rear, with dual-chamber air springs with 90 mm of height adjustment and even rear-wheel steering.

Looking for all the world like a spaceship, the X9 5,293 mm long, 1,988 mm wide and 1,785 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,160 mm. It’s comfortably the longest of them all (it certainly shades the Toyota twins, which are a hair over five metres long), although its rakish coupe-like roofline means it’s quite a bit lower than the others. The car is based on Xpeng’s Smart Electric Platform Architecture (SEPA) 2.0, just like the G6 SUV.

Inside, the X9 takes after the G6 with a minimalist interior dominated by two screens – a 10.25-inch digital instrument display and a 17.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The second row is outfitted with “zero gravity” captain’s chairs with 18-way power adjustment, memory and massage functions, and they get their own folding table, flip-open cupholders and a 21.4-inch roof-mounted touchscreen monitor. The three-seater third-row is also power adjustable and can be stowed into the rear boot floor electrically.

Exterior standard kit in Thailand includes 20-inch two-tone aero wheels, keyless entry and start, power-sliding doors and a powered tailgate. Inside, you get 12-way powered front seats with memory, heating and massage, Nappa leather upholstery, five-zone (!) climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, twin 50-watt Qi wireless chargers for the first two rows, twin glass roofs with power sunshades, a digital rear-view mirror, a Bluetooth key function and a 23-speaker Xopera sound system with driver headrest speakers.

In terms of driver assists, the X9 comes with Xpeng’s Xpilot Level 2 semi-autonomous driving function, including adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist with curve speed reduction, traffic sign recognition, auto parking and remote parking assist. Autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring with collision prevention, rear cross traffic alert, rear collision warning, a door opening warning and automatic high beam are also fitted, as is a 360-degree camera system with a 3D view and transparency function.

The one piece of the puzzle remaining is price. Nothing has been revealed just yet, but expect the X9 to retail around the ballpark of its main rivals – the Denza D9 retails at RM259,000 for the base front-wheel drive model and RM309,000 with all-wheel drive, while the all-wheel drive Zeekr 009 costs RM349,800 with seven seats and RM359,800 with six seats.

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Xpeng X9 previewed in Malaysia – EV MPV with up to 503 PS and 575 km WLTP range; launching soon?

In Cars, Electric Cars in Malaysia, Local News / By Gerard Lye / 23 January 2025 8:06 pm / 13 comments

Following the sighting of an Xpeng X9 in Malaysia last year, the fully electric MPV has now been officially previewed during a media event hosted by Bermaz Auto (BAuto) today – we were told this is a development unit. At present, Bermaz Xpeng (an 85% owned subsidiary of BAuto) only sells the G6 that was launched last August.

Built on the brand’s Smart Electric Platform Architecture 2.0 (SEPA 2.0), the X9 will look to take on other electric MPVs such as the Zeekr 009 and Denza D9. We can also include the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire as notable competitors, although those are petrol-powered offerings.

Measuring 5,293 mm long, 1,988 mm wide, 1,785 mm tall and with a wheelbase spanning 3,160 mm, the X9 is larger than both Toyota’s MPVs and comparable in size to 009 and D9. Between the three Chinese electric MPVs, it is the Zeekr with the longest wheelbase.

To stand out from the crowd, the X9 boasts a rather unique look that eschews a flat tailgate that is typical of MPVs. Instead, the rear has a wedge-shaped design while the front gets two-tier lighting (upper DRLs and lower main headlamps). Other cues include an angular face with a honeycomb mest pattern for the lower intake, flush pop-out door handles and sliding rear doors.

Inside, the X9 integrates almost all vehicle controls into a 17.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is accompanied by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster display. Rear passengers get a ceiling-mounted 21.4-inch display as well as “airline-style” seats in the second row with heating, ventilation and massage functions. In total, there are seven seats arranged in a 2-2-3 layout.

Given this is a right-hand drive example, the powertrain could be similar to what’s offered in Hong Kong. Over there, the X9 comes with a front-mounted electric motor rated at 320 PS (315 hp or 235 kW) and 450 Nm, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of 7.7 seconds and top speed of 200 km/h.

Two battery options are available, starting with a 84.5-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery for up to 610 km of range following the CLTC standard (or 480 km WLTP as listed in Hong Kong). There’s also a 101.5-kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery for up to 702 km CLTC (or 575 km WLTP). With some deducing taking into account the remaining range (357 km WLTP) and battery charge state (61%) shown in the instrument cluster at the time of writing, we think this is the latter.

In China, the X9 can also be had as an AWD variant which uses the same NMC battery but its dual electric motors provide 503 PS (496 hp or 370 kW) and 640 Nm for a century sprint time of 5.7 seconds and the same 200 km/h top speed, but with less range at 640 km CLTC.

The X9 in China supports DC fast charging, with the carmaker stating “3C superfast charging,” capable of going from 10% to 80% state of charge in just 20 minutes. There’s also a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system capable of outputting 3.3 kW to power devices and accessories. Other aspects of the powertrain are dual-chamber air suspension with variable damping as well as rear-axle steering.

For now, Bermaz Xpeng is not providing indicative pricing for the X9 or even a launch date. In its home market, the X9 ranges from 359,800 yuan to 419,800 yuan (about RM219k to RM256k), which would make it cheaper than the Toyota MPVs and even the Zeekr 009, if we ignore things like shipping costs and others. Looking forward to the X9 going on sale here?

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Xpeng X9 spotted Malaysia – 7-seat EV MPV with up to 503 PS, 702 km CLTC EV range; launching in 2025?

In Cars, Local News, Spyshots, Xpeng / By Gerard Lye / 24 December 2024 4:53 pm / 6 comments

Bermaz Xpeng appears to be gearing up to introduce the Xpeng X9 in Malaysia following a recent sighting of the fully electric MPV. Spotted along Jalan Kemajuan Subang, the vehicle photographed can be clearly seen with ‘Bermaz Xpeng Research & Development’ on its side and is a right-hand drive example.

The RHD version of the X9 has already made its debut in Hong Kong, where the official distributor is Sime Darby Motors. Over there, it is offered in two variants, both with front-wheel drive and seven seats (2-2-3 layout).

The X9 was first revealed in October 2023 and went on sale in China in January this year. Sharing the brand’s Smart Electric Platform Architecture 2.0 (SEPA 2.0) platform with the G6 that was launched in Malaysia in August, the X9 measures 5,293 mm long, 1,988 mm wide, 1,785 mm tall and has a wheelbase spanning 3,160 mm.

Competition for the Xpeng MPV includes the Zeekr 009 (launched here earlier this month), Denza D9 (due to arrive here in Q1 2025) as well as the established Toyota Alphard and Vellfire.

In terms of the powertrains, the FWD variants of the X9 in China come with an 84.5-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery for up to 610 km of range following the CLTC standard. This powers an electric motor rated at 320 PS (315 hp or 235 kW) and 450 Nm, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of 7.7 seconds and top speed of 200 km/h. There is also a FWD variant with the same electric motor but with a 101.5-kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery for more range at up to 702 km.

Also available is an all-wheel drive variant with the same NMC battery and dual electric motors, the latter providing a total system output of 503 PS (496 hp or 370 kW) and 640 Nm. The result of the added grunt is a quicker sprint time of 5.7 seconds, less range at 640 km and an unchanged 200 km/h top speed.

DC fast charging is supported, with the brand claiming “3C superfast charging,” where the ‘C’ indicates how many times a battery can be charged in one hour. The MPV will get from a 10-80% state of charge in at least 20 minutes, and there’s also a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system capable of outputting 3.3 kW to power devices and accessories

Much like the Zeekr 009, the X9 comes with dual-chamber air suspension with variable damping, but has the added advantage of rear-axle steering, which should be useful when it comes to manoeuvrability.

To stand out from the crowd, the X9’s design is also particular eye-catching, with a steeply angled rear window instead of a flat tailgate that most MPVs have. Other noteworthy cues include a dual-tier front lighting setup (upper DRLs and lower main headlamps), a honeycomb mesh pattern for the lower intake, flush pop-out door handles and sliding rear doors.

On the inside, the X9 is similar to the G6 by having a minimalistic dashboard where almost all vehicle functions are integrated into a 17.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Other features include a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 21.4-inch display for rear passengers, a panoramic glass roof, an Xopera 23-speaker sound system, a refrigerator, a comprehensive Xpilot ADAS suite as well as “airline-style” seats in the second row with heating, ventilation and massage functions.

During the launch of the G6 a few months ago, Bermaz Xpeng suggested the possibility of the X9 going on sale in Malaysia, and this sighting appears to reinforce that notion. Are you looking forward to the X9’s launch here? Will you pick it over the 009, D9, Alphard and Vellfire? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

GALLERY: Xpeng X9

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Xpeng X9 – fully electric 7-seat MPV with up to 503 PS, 702 km CLTC EV range; should this come to Malaysia?

In Cars, International News, Local News, Xpeng / By Gerard Lye / 28 August 2024 5:13 pm / 10 comments

The G6 is Xpeng’s first model to go on sale here in Malaysia, with more expected to come our way based on what was said during a press conference following the launch of the electric vehicle (EV) yesterday.

While Xpeng has a number of models in its line-up, not all of them are available in right-hand drive guise. In May this year, the Chinese carmaker confirmed it would launch the G6 and X9 in Hong Kong, a RHD market like ours.

We have already welcomed the G6, but it remains to be seen if the X9 will join it in the near future. In any case, here’s what you need to know about the Xpeng X9. First making its debut at Xpeng’s 1024 Tech Day in October 2023 before being launched in China in January this year, the X9 is a large premium MPV that shares the brand’s Smart Electric Platform Architecture 2.0 (SEPA 2.0) platform with the G6 SUV.

Notable competitors come in the form of the Zeekr 009, Denza D9, and if you’re talking about Hong Kong and most ASEAN countries, the venerable Toyota Alphard/Vellfire. At 5,293 mm long, 1,988 mm wide, 1,785 mm tall and with a wheelbase spanning 3,160 mm, the X9 is larger than Toyota’s MPVs and comparable in size to the Zeekr and Denza, although the former’s 009 has the longest wheelbase among these Chinese offerings.

Unlike rival MPVs that have a “flat” rear window, the one on the X9 is angled for a more unique look and gives off a Citroen Xsara Picasso vibe. Other design cues include a dual-tier front lighting setup (upper DRLs and lower main headlamps), a honeycomb mesh pattern for the lower intake, flush pop-out door handles and sliding rear doors.

Inside, the X9 follows the minimalism trend that sees almost all vehicle controls being integrated into its 17.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is joined by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Being a luxury-focused people mover, there’s also a 21.4-inch display for rear passengers and “airline-style” seats in the second row with heating, ventilation and massage functions. Regular leather upholstery is standard, with more premium Nappa leather being an optional extra.

The X9 is a seven-seater featuring a 2-2-3 layout, with the third-row bench sporting electrical adjustment for the backrest and headrest. Other niceties include a large panoramic glass roof, an Xopera 23-speaker sound system with 2,180W of amplification, a refrigerator and the comprehensive Xpilot suite of advanced driver assistance systems.

Pricing for the X9 starts at 359,800 yuan (about RM219k) and goes all the way up to 419,800 yuan (RM256k). The MPV can be had with a single-motor, front-wheel drive or dual-motor, all-wheel drive setup, the former available in two battery capacities.

Starting with the FWD options, the base specification features an 84.5-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery for up to 610 km of range following the very generous CLTC standard. This powers a front-mounted electric motor rated at 320 PS (315 hp or 235 kW) and 450 Nm, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of 7.7 seconds and top speed of 200 km/h

There’s also a FWD variant with a 101.5-kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery and the same electric motor at the front for up to 702 km of range. As for the AWD variant, it uses the same NMC battery but its dual electric motors provide 503 PS (496 hp or 370 kW) and 640 Nm for a reduced century sprint time of 5.7 seconds and the same 200 km/h top speed, but with less range at 640 km.

All batteries for the X9 support DC fast charging, with the carmaker preferring to rate them as “3C superfast charging,” where the ‘C’ indicates how many times a battery can be charged in one hour. In this case, the MPV will get from a 10-80% state of charge in at least 20 minutes. There’s also a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system capable of outputting 3.3 kW to power devices and accessories.

Other aspects of the powertrain are dual-chamber air suspension with variable damping as well as rear-axle steering, the latter being particular useful for a vehicle of this size. Regardless of variant, all X9s sold in China come standard with 19-inch wheels, with 20-inch units being an option.

It all sounds very promising but it is still not confirmed if the X9 will be sold in Malaysia. If ever the Xpeng MPV comes to Malaysia, it will have to fend off the 009 that has already been confirmed for our market, the established Alphard/Vellfire as well as the hopefully-coming-our-way D9. Which would you go for?

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