- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru He Fr Ar
Li Auto. Able to surprise
Li Auto Inc., also known as Li Xiang, is a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Beijing with manufacturing facilities in Changzhou. Established in 2015, the company managed to surprise everyone with its first model released in 2018. It was an intelligent electric luxury SUV, the Li Auto One, with a series hybrid system and a driving range of 1,080 km. There are few cars in the world that use such a system. The unique vehicle can be charged both from the outlet and refueled with gasoline. In 2020, the amazing company debuted on the Nasdaq and raised over a billion dollars in its initial public offering. And its creator, the billionaire and owner of the major automotive website Autohome, Xiang Li, was nicknamed the Chinese Elon Musk.
The word "Li" in the company name is not only a reference to the founder's last name, but also an abbreviation for “Leading Ideal”.
In the summer of 2022, the manufacturer released its second model, a large L9 luxury SUV. In autumn, the L7 and L8 models appeared. The 2023 year also promises to be very productive: Li Auto continues to surprise the public by planning the release of four new models at once, two of which are pure electric vehicles. One of them will most likely be a minivan, and nothing is yet known about the other three, except that one model will be built on the Whale&Shark electric platform, while a couple of others use the X platform. There is something else, quite surprising: in the near future Li Auto plans to install a Level 4 autonomous driving system as standard on its vehicles. The company predicts that its self-driving system will begin to compete with Tesla. Well, as you understand, the brand has already announced plans to enter Europe.
Li One
The firstborn of the company was unveiled on October 18, 2018. The model is distinguished by a series hybrid system, in which a 1.2-liter engine charges the traction battery, and two electric motors rotate the wheels. The 6 or 7-seater vehicle was initially beautiful and richly equipped. However, in May 2021, it was improved according to the wishes of customers: the driving range has increased to 1,080 km due to a larger gas tank and a new rear motor, as a result of which the purely electric driving range has grown from 180 to 188 km.
Li L9
In August 2022, the manufacturer introduced a large luxury SUV, the Li L9, a potential flagship of the brand, with a length of 5.2 meters and a wheelbase of 3.1 meters. The model comes with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and two electric motors. The vehicle is similar to the first model, because it is based on it and is a further development of the concept. The electric driving range now reaches 215 km, whereas the driving range has increased to 1,315 km in hybrid mode (thanks to the 65-liter reserve of gasoline). The equipment is very generous: there is artificial intelligence and a very advanced autopilot.
Li L8
In September 2022, the manufacturer presented the L7 and L8 models. But, at their core, they are modifications of the One, which was directly replaced by the L8. The 3-row, 6-seater SUV features relatively simple finishing materials. The L8 can be considered as a shortened and simplified L9. Moreover, it is not easy to distinguish the models externally: the wheelbase has decreased by 100 mm (up to 3,005 mm), the length has been reduced by 138 mm (up to 5,080). The front part of the interior of the L8 and L9 models is the same, with a small display placed on the steering wheel. To the right of the driver there are two 15.7-inh touch screens: the central one is responsible for climate control, navigation and other settings, and the passenger screen is for the media system. The equipment was borrowed from the flagship: a 1.5-liter engine (154 hp) charges the traction battery, while the wheels are driven by two electric motors with 177 hp on the front axle and 272 hp on the rear axle. The total output of the powertrain reaches 449 hp and 620 Nm.
Li L7
The Li L7 SUV has a wheelbase of 3,005 mm and a body length of 5,050 mm. Externally, it can be distinguished by the slope of the rear roof pillars. The 2-row, 5-seater vehicle comes with 3-seater backseat with an electric backrest tilt function, allowing you to adjust the backrests at an angle of 40 degrees. The options include equipment from older ‘brothers’, and equipment was also inherited from them.
