An AI technology company that happens to make vehicles. That’s how Xpeng positions themselves in the market. They have the usual flair of an automotive brand but their focus is in how artificial intelligence is integrated and utilized into the cars.
They brought their A-game during their launch at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Apart from the launch of the X9 MPV and L03 SUV, they also showcased their P7 fastback sedan and the most interesting X7 flying car.
The Chinese automaker has placed artificial intelligence at the heart of its vehicles. It isn’t limited to making the infotainment system easier to use or more personalized the longer you spend with it. Xpeng also wants AI to play a role when things get complicated on the road.
The company says its vehicles can learn from a driver’s tendencies and adapt to different situations instead of simply following a fixed set of instructions. The idea is to help the car make decisions in complex road environments in a way that more closely resembles how a human driver would think. Xpeng describes this goal as being able to “replicate human driving logic.”
Xpeng L03
The L03 is the one that catches your eye first. There is something almost concept-car-like about its shape. It is low, wide, and clean, with very little visual clutter interrupting its lines. That shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the person behind its design. JuanMa Lopez, who worked with Lamborghini, Ferrari, Audi, and other major marques, was responsible for the L03. Among his notable projects is the Ferrari LaFerrari.
At 4,650mm long, 1,920mm wide, and 1,600mm tall, the L03 occupies the same general space as crossovers such as the Geely EX5 and GAC AION V. But while those vehicles have the upright proportions we’re used to seeing from crossovers, the L03 has a lower, more athletic stance. Its 2,850mm wheelbase gives it plenty of room between the axles, while ground clearance is only 144mm.
That low stance isn’t just for looks. Xpeng gave the L03 a drag coefficient of 0.228, and you can see the aerodynamic thinking throughout the car. The nose comes to a sharp point before flowing into the corners and its Starship headlights, which contain 400 LED beads. The same smooth theme continues down the sides before widening toward the rear. Flush door handles keep the profile clean, while cameras and sensors are tucked around the body. At the back, Full Width Star Ring taillights provide the finishing touch.
Even some of the details you might normally overlook have a purpose. There is an active shutter grille in the front bumper and functional air ducts around the body, all helping the L03 move through the air more efficiently.
Most L03 variants are rear-wheel-drive EVs. The RWD Standard produces 222 PS and 280 Nm, while the Long Range and Long Range Ultra make 249 PS with the same 280 Nm. Battery capacity ranges from 58.2 kWh in the Standard to 71.1 kWh in the Long Range variants.
That translates to WLTP ranges of 445km for the Standard, 520km for the Long Range, and 480km for the Long Range Ultra.
For those who want the convenience of electric driving without constantly thinking about where the next charger is, there is the PowerX Long Range. It uses a combustion engine as a generator, giving the car 242 PS and 280 Nm while allowing it to travel 215km on electricity alone. With the range extender doing its job, the claimed combined range reaches 1,017km.
Xpeng even claims that the range extender produces less than 1dB of noise when activated.
Charging is naturally another part of the equation. AC charging is rated at up to 6.6kW, with a full 5-to-100-percent charge taking 10 hours for the Standard, 12.2 hours for the Long Range variants, and 6.5 hours for the PowerX. Plug into a sufficiently powerful DC charger, however, and things move much quicker. The Standard can accept up to 193kW, while the Long Range variants can take as much as 236kW. The PowerX is capable of up to 123kW. Xpeng claims 10-to-80-percent charging in as little as 20 minutes.
But the L03’s biggest surprise might be inside. The cabin follows the minimalist direction that has become increasingly common among Chinese cars, but Xpeng gives it a distinctly high-tech interpretation. The dashboard is clean, with hidden vents helping maintain the uninterrupted appearance. A massive 15.6-inch Ultra HD touchscreen dominates the center, while a two-spoke steering wheel keeps the controls relatively simple.
There is a digital display for the driver, but Xpeng goes further with a huge 26.8-inch Ultra-Wide Heads-Up Display with an automatic light sensor.
The system running behind all of this is XOS 6. It supports natural dialogue and multiple languages, while Google Maps is built directly into the system. There is also a rich app ecosystem and all-scenario voice control, meaning the idea is to interact with the car without having to constantly reach for the touchscreen.
The L03 can also become a rather comfortable place to spend time. The Long Range Ultra gets heated and ventilated front seats, while the driver can have a 14-point massage function or four-way pneumatic lumbar support depending on the variant.
Then the list starts getting a little excessive—in a good way. There are velvet pillars and a velvet headliner, 256-color ambient lighting that wraps around the cabin, and an Xopera surround sound system with as many as 20 speakers. Above the occupants is a panoramic glass roof with 99.9 percent UV protection and 97 percent visible-light rejection. Dual-zone climate control and rear air vents are standard, too.
For families, the L03’s party trick isn’t necessarily its screens or speakers. It is the amount of stuff you can put inside. Xpeng says there are 37 storage spaces throughout the cabin, along with 40 expansion points consisting of screw and magnetic ports, hooks, and pogo-pin ports. Behind the rear seats is 539 liters of cargo space, which grows to 1,640 liters with the seats folded. The EV variants also get a 102-liter frunk, while a 10-liter rear-seat drawer provides another place to hide smaller items.
And underneath all that technology is a considerable amount of safety hardware. The L03 received a five-star 2024 C-NCAP rating. It has 17 ADAS features, including some unusual ones such as Driver Incapacitation Assist and Blowout Stability Control, alongside more familiar systems such as Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keeping Assist, and Blind Spot Detection. Its Flexible Parking Assist system can even work without traditional parking markers on the ground.
All of this starts at PHP 1,548,000 for the EV Standard. The REEV follows at PHP 1,598,000, while the Long Range starts at PHP 1,698,000. The Long Range Ultra, meanwhile, was the first variant to have its price announced at PHP 2,058,000. Customers can choose from Phantom Purple, Rock Gray, Midnight Black, Arctic White, and Silver Frost.
Xpeng also bundles two years of free PMS, five years of free roadside assistance, a five-year vehicle warranty, and an eight-year warranty covering the battery and electric motor. EV buyers get a 7kW wall charger, while the REEV comes with a 3.5kW portable charger.
Xpeng X9
If the L03 feels like Xpeng’s idea of a high-tech personal space, the X9 takes that philosophy and turns it into a lounge on wheels. The X9 is for a very different kind of journey. At 5,316mm long, 1,988mm wide, and 1,785mm tall, it is a substantial machine. Its 3,160mm wheelbase gives it the kind of interior space that makes the L03 feel almost compact by comparison.
Yet Xpeng managed to give it a drag coefficient of just 0.236. Its Starship-inspired shape may look imposing, but the Aero Optimized Design and active grille shutters help it slip through the air more efficiently.
There are only two variants in the Philippine lineup, with the biggest difference being what happens in the second row. The X9 starts at PHP 3,858,000, while the Second Row Premium Seat Package brings it to PHP 4,058,000.
Unlike the L03, the X9 is purely electric. Its electric motor produces 320 PS and 450 Nm, enough to propel this large MPV from zero to 100kph in 7.75 seconds before reaching a 200kph top speed.
A 110-kWh battery provides a claimed 615km WLTP range. AC charging is supported at up to 11kW, while DC fast charging can reach an enormous 542kW. Xpeng claims that a 10-to-80-percent charge can take just 12 minutes under the right conditions. The X9 is also capable of 6kW Vehicle-to-Load output, which effectively turns the MPV into a large mobile power bank for appliances and other equipment.
Despite measuring more than 5.3 meters, the X9 has rear-wheel steering capable of turning the rear wheels by up to five degrees. The result is a claimed turning circle of just 5.4 meters.
The rear wheels also assist during lane changes, while dual-chamber air suspension uses pre-scanning technology to adjust the ride. The suspension can alter the vehicle’s height between 100 and 190mm. It is the kind of technology that makes a very large vehicle feel less intimidating than its dimensions suggest.
Inside, the X9 trades the L03’s minimalist feel for something more lounge-like. The basic dashboard layout is familiar, but the center console is taller and more substantial. It houses two 50W wireless charging pads and a refrigerator underneath the center armrest, complete with heating and cooling functions.
The front seats are heated, ventilated, and equipped with massage functions. The driver gets a 12-way powered seat with four-way lumbar support, memory, and a welcome function.
Then there is the second row. Even the standard seats are designed to make long journeys feel less like a commute and more like a first-class cabin. They offer 14-way electric adjustment, four-way lumbar support, heated leg rests, and zero-gravity positioning. Passengers get heating, ventilation, memory, and 10-point massage. There is also 180mm of space between the seats, allowing passengers to move toward the third row without having to climb over anything.
The Premium Seat Package takes things further with 18-way electric adjustment, four-way headrests, powered leg rests, and 16-point massage. The seats are so large, however, that the center aisle disappears.
Even the third row gets some attention. Its headrests and backrests can be electrically adjusted, while a one-click folding function can be activated from the cargo area.
Then Xpeng adds something that is particularly interesting for a vehicle designed to carry several people: five-zone climate control. Small ventilation holes in the second and third rows help distribute air more evenly, allowing passengers in the back to have a more comfortable environment instead of simply relying on whatever air makes its way from the front.
Naturally, there are screens. A 17.3-inch central touchscreen handles the main functions, while rear passengers get a 21.4-inch entertainment display. The driver gets a 21-inch heads-up display.
There are also five USB Type-C ports and two 12V sockets, while the entertainment system is handled by a 27-speaker Xopera sound system with dedicated driver headrest speakers.
The list continues with electric soft-close front doors, powered sliding doors, and one-click access to the third row.
And despite all the space devoted to passengers, Xpeng hasn’t forgotten their luggage. There is 721 liters of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,554 liters with the seats folded.
The X9 also gets a serious suite of safety equipment. Nine airbags come standard, accompanied by 16 ADAS features, 12 cameras, three millimeter-wave radars, and 12 sensors.
Parking a vehicle this large can understandably be a concern, so Xpeng has equipped the X9 with Intelligent Parking features that include Enhanced Auto Parking Assist, Auto Exit Parking, Remote Parking, and Remote Vehicle Summon.
The X9 will be offered in Midnight Black, Matte Gray, Silver Frost, and Arctic White, with interior choices ranging from Meteorite Black to Coffee. It also comes with five years of free PMS, five years of free roadside assistance, a five-year vehicle warranty, and an eight-year battery and electric motor warranty. A 7kW wall charger is included as well.
Ultimately, the L03 and X9 show two sides of what Xpeng is trying to do. The L03 is the sleek, technology-heavy crossover for someone who wants something futuristic without going overboard in size. The X9 takes that same obsession with technology and comfort and stretches it across three rows, turning the family MPV into something that feels closer to a private lounge.
