OMODA X concept pairs angular SUV styling with night vision technology

OMODA has revealed a new SUV concept combining angular styling, infrared night vision and a personalised cabin with a proposed towing capacity of 1,800kg. Unveiled in China on 20 October, the OMODA X previews the brand’s thinking on design and technology, although UK availability and its powertrain remain unconfirmed.

The concept includes 200mm of ground clearance, a 75kg roof load capacity and 39 storage spaces, alongside a conversational voice assistant and an adjustable X-MODE drive setting. OMODA says it is exploring how an SUV can accommodate urban weekday journeys and weekend trips while giving buyers greater scope to express their personal style.

For electric vehicle buyers, however, the announcement leaves a fundamental question unanswered: what powers it? The release does not identify a battery-electric, hybrid or combustion drivetrain, and provides no battery capacity, electric range or charging figures. The X should therefore be treated as a design and technology concept rather than a confirmed addition to the electric SUV market.

There is also no announced price, production timetable or UK launch commitment. OMODA explicitly cautions that the vehicle is a concept and that the specifications presented at its reveal are subject to change. Its towing capacity is described as an intended target, rather than a final homologated figure.

The X was shown at the global OMODA&JAECOO International User Summit. Its clearest connection to a forthcoming UK model is through its styling: it develops the angular design language of the OMODA 4, which made its European motor show debut in Paris earlier this month and is scheduled to go on sale here in 2027.

The manufacturer frames the project around three familiar SUV attributes: stance, space and versatility. Its emphasis is on how those qualities fit customers’ lifestyles, with room for people and belongings as well as a distinctive appearance. That positioning helps explain why the reveal concentrates on cabin experiences and carrying equipment.

A broader interpretation of OMODA design

OMODA calls this styling approach “Cyber Mecha”, applying sharp surfaces and pronounced geometry to the SUV body. On the X, the company describes a wider body, broad shoulders and a tightly sculpted waistline. These features give the concept its visual identity, although overall dimensions have not been disclosed.

The reveal included silver and green versions, both with a contrasting black roof. OMODA is presenting the car partly as a fashion statement, linking its appearance to the idea that a vehicle can reflect an owner’s taste in much the same way as their clothing.

Despite that emphasis on individual expression, several details deliberately connect the concept to the existing range. Lightning-style rear lights echo the lighting themes of the latest OMODA 7 and forthcoming OMODA 4. At the front, arrowhead-shaped LED daytime running lights reflect the arrow-shaped rear lamps of the OMODA 5.

Those connections suggest the X is intended to explore an extension of the brand’s visual identity. They do not establish which elements will reach a showroom model, but they offer a clearer indication of design direction than the announcement provides on the vehicle’s mechanical specification.

Screens supported by physical controls

Inside, a twin-wing dashboard and an X-shaped floating centre console frame a 10.25-inch digital instrument display and a 13.2-inch central touchscreen. The layout combines a screen-led presentation with physical controls for frequently used functions, including air conditioning and driving modes.

That detail will be relevant to drivers who prefer to make routine adjustments without navigating touchscreen menus. The announcement does not specify the full range of buttons or switches, but it confirms that at least some everyday functions have dedicated physical controls.

The cabin technology is grouped under OMODA’s “Super Intelligent Space” name. Its concept voice assistant is designed to understand natural, conversational speech, allowing occupants to interact with the car without having to rely on a prescribed set of commands.

OMODA has not detailed the assistant’s supported languages, connectivity requirements or range of functions. The announcement therefore describes its intended style of interaction, rather than providing enough information to assess how effectively it would work in everyday driving.

A personalised X-MODE setting is also intended to let drivers tailor the vehicle’s settings and responses to their preferences. The release does not specify which parameters can be changed. In particular, the name should not be read as confirmation of a particular drivetrain, four-wheel-drive system or off-road capability.

Night vision and cabin entertainment

Among the more distinctive technologies is an infrared thermal imaging night vision system. OMODA says this can identify potential hazards up to 90 metres ahead, with the aim of providing additional reassurance on journeys after dark.

The company has not supplied details of how warnings are displayed, which hazards the system recognises or the conditions under which that detection distance is achieved. Nor does the announcement establish whether the technology is linked to any automatic intervention. The stated range remains a concept specification rather than an independently assessed performance result.

Cabin entertainment takes a different direction, with an integrated microphone system offering four independent sound pickup zones. This is designed to allow passengers to join in with in-car karaoke without needing handheld microphones, extending the concept’s focus on shared leisure time.

The system illustrates OMODA’s interest in functions beyond the driving task itself. However, the release does not explain whether individual sound zones can be controlled separately or describe the wider audio equipment accompanying the microphones.

Practicality behind the presentation

Alongside the fashion and entertainment themes, OMODA has outlined several practical targets. The 200mm ground clearance is intended to support use beyond city streets, while the 75kg roof load capacity provides a stated allowance for carrying equipment above the cabin.

The proposed towing capacity of up to 1,800kg could be relevant to buyers carrying heavier leisure equipment, but confirmation will depend on any eventual production specification. Without powertrain details, it is also impossible to assess the implications of towing for fuel consumption or electric driving range.

OMODA counts 39 storage spaces throughout the concept, although it has not provided a breakdown of their locations or capacities. A storage-space count is not a substitute for boot volume, and the announcement gives no luggage capacity or passenger-space measurements with which to judge family practicality.

These omissions leave the X as an early statement of intent. The most useful information for prospective buyers is the combination of design themes and proposed equipment; the commercial and engineering details needed for a purchasing decision have yet to follow.

OMODA and sister brand JAECOO are part of Chery Holding Group. In the release, the company says the combined brands reached one million global sales in under three years across 64 markets. For UK customers, the firmer near-term commitment remains the OMODA 4’s planned arrival in 2027, while the X’s future is still open.