Xpeng Slots a Five-Seat Giant Between Its G9 and GX Crossovers

China's obsession with oversized crossovers shows no sign of slowing, and Xpeng is doubling down with a new model that slots between two existing giants. The brand already sells the sizeable G9 and the even larger GX, but a fresh contender called G9L is about to join the lineup as a stretched evolution of the standard G9.

What makes the G9L unusual is a deliberate restraint: despite dimensions that would easily support a third row, engineers kept it strictly five-seat so it wouldn't cannibalize sales of the seven-seat GX flagship. At 5,120 mm long, 1,999 mm wide, 1,782 mm tall and riding on a 3,100 mm wheelbase, the G9L dwarfs the regular G9 (4,891 mm long, 2,998 mm wheelbase) and even edges close to the GX in footprint, despite the flagship's longer 5,265 mm body and only marginally bigger 3,115 mm wheelbase.

Styling follows Xpeng's current design language of smooth, uncluttered surfacing. Like the GX, the newcomer gets two-tier headlights joined by a full-width running light strip, plus an active-shutter intake integrated into the front bumper. The side profile reads sportier than the flagship's slab-sided silhouette with its hidden rear pillars. Flush door handles also make an appearance a feature that's about to be outlawed in China while the rear end keeps things simple with a single light bar and a tailgate spoiler. So far only two paint colors, green and purple, have been confirmed, alongside a single wheel and tire spec of 255/50 R20. Curiously for a modern Chinese EV, there's no rooftop lidar, though the G9L compensates with a serious autonomous-driving package built around three of Xpeng's proprietary Turing AI chips delivering a combined 2,250 TOPS and second-generation VLA artificial intelligence.

Interior photos remain scarce, but the cabin is expected to closely mirror the GX's, following the now-familiar Chinese formula of few physical buttons, a small instrument screen and a large central tablet. Rear passengers are treated to power-adjustable seats fitted with 91 pressure sensors that reshape to fit different body types, a fold-out table, a multi-zone fridge and a 33-speaker sound system. Cargo space checks in at 1,152 liters as standard.

Unlike the electric-only regular G9, the G9L reflects Xpeng's current dual-track strategy by arriving in both pure-EV and hybrid forms. The base rear-wheel-drive electric version weighs 2,600 kg and uses a single rear motor making 367 hp, paired with either an 800-volt lithium-iron-phosphate or NMC battery capacities aren't confirmed yet, but range is quoted between 672 and 805 km, with just nine minutes of fast charging adding 450 km. A dual-motor all-wheel-drive EV variant follows with 585 hp, a 2,740 kg curb weight and an NMC pack as the only option.

The hybrid models pair a 1.5-liter turbo four making 150 hp with a lithium-iron-phosphate battery of unspecified size. The rear-drive hybrid, at 2,675 kg and 286 hp, manages 350 km on electric power alone, while the heavier 2,775 kg all-wheel-drive hybrid with 503 hp trails at 325 km; combined range for either hybrid hasn't been disclosed. Every version, regardless of powertrain, tops out at 200 km/h. Based on the release of official images, a full unveiling looks imminent, and Chinese media expect pricing to land around 300,000 yuan (about $44,500) comfortably between the entry-level G9 at 249,000 yuan ($37,000) and the GX starting at 400,000 yuan ($58,500).