Li Auto unveils new electric flagship Li i9

Li Auto is holding the world premiere of its all-electric Li i9 in China — its largest SUV to date, measuring nearly 5.25 meters in length. The manufacturer is also on the verge of expanding into Europe: at the Paris Auto Show in October, it plans to introduce the Li 6 for European markets.

Image: Li Auto

Li Auto has unveiled the Li i9 in China, a fully electric six-seater SUV with a range of 705 kilometers according to Chinese testing standards. It is based on the second generation of the company’s BEV platform and costs around 369,800 yuan in the standard version—roughly equivalent to 48,500 euros. With this model, Li Auto adds a more spacious family SUV to its lineup, which already targets the Chinese premium segment. The Li i9 does not have traditional SUV proportions but rather resembles a van in appearance. Initially, it will be available only in the “Home” trim level, which includes swivel seats.

Technical details: The Li I9 is 5.23 meters long with a wheelbase of 3.17 meters between the axles. This makes it the most spacious model in the manufacturer’s lineup to date. Powered by a 400-kW all-wheel-drive system delivering 660 Nm of torque, it is said to achieve 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. Beneath the chassis lies a nickel-based 101-kWh battery that, according to Li Auto, supports 5C charging and enables the claimed CLTC range of 705 kilometers. The company states that a 10-minute charge can add up to 500 kilometers of range.

The standard suspension setup includes a two-chamber air suspension with two valves, steer-by-wire technology, and rear-wheel steering. As is typical of high-end Chinese electric sports cars, the Li i9 is also fully connected, equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8797 chip, and features lidar sensors among other amenities. The seats can also be adjusted so that passengers in the second and third rows face each other. This is a feature of the “Home” trim level, which has been available only in the Li Mega so far and is now also offered on the Li i9. In addition to these two models, Li Auto has the Li i8 and Li i6 in the BEV market in China.

As reported, Li Auto also aims for an early market launch in Europe: Next month, the Chinese manufacturer will be present at the Paris Auto Show (October 12–18) to unveil the Li 6 for Europe — which is the counterpart to the Chinese Li i6. Sales are set to begin in Europe still in the fourth quarter.