XPeng P7+ Set to Launch In Oct With LOFIC Sensor Instead of LIDAR

Although things had not been looking up for Xpeng in recent years, the outfit promises things are about to turn around when the delayed delivery of the seemingly popular Mona M03 kicks off and with the launch of the P7+ this Oct.

The P7+ will technically be a replacement to the P7i, which was unveiled last year as a mid-cycle update to the original P7 from 2020. This quick succession of updates may surprise some, but it's understandable given the fierce rivalry in China's NEV (New Energy Vehicle) space, where models' lifespan are becoming somewhat shorter. Additionally it might not come as a surprise should Xpeng offer both the P7i and P7+ for sale at the same time.

The P7+ is said to rectify a highly criticised shortfall of the P7, which was the lack of space in the rear seat. The P7+, according to CarNewsChina tackles this by sitting on a larger frame with a wheelbase of 3,000 MM which -  2 MM longer than the P7. The P7+ will sit 5,056 MM long, 1 937 MM wide and 1,512 MM tall.

Despite the tiny 2 MM difference in wheelbase, sources indicate that the P7+ will put an emphasis on rear seat comfort, possibly including items like motorised leg rests, heated and ventilated seats, adjustable seatbacks, and rear entertainment screens.

The P7+ will be built on an upgraded version of the SEPA 2.0 platform, the same platform underpinning the G6, which was recently launched in Malaysia. The P7+ is estimated to deliver an energy consumption rate of 11 kWh/100 KM and see two battery capacity options - a 60.7 kWh with an estimated 575 KM range, and a 76.3 kWh pack with 685 KM range. These numbers are lesser than the P7i's largest 86.2kWh pack, which boasts a CLTC range of 702 KM.

No indications yet of there will be a dual-motor variant, however power output has been detailed at 180 kW (241 HP) and 230 kW (308 HP) according to MIIT.

Additionally, the P7+ will incorporate Xpeng's new "Eagle Eye" AI technology, which greatly improves real-time perception thanks to a network scale that is 125% larger. The Eagle Eye system enhances the perception distance by 1.25 times and increases the recognition speed by 40%.

It will also feature a special single-pixel LOFIC architectural sensor that is made to perform well in difficult environments including tunnels, backlight, rain, fog, and darkness. Similar system will also be adopted to the higher end Mona M03 Max which will be launched next year. This vision-based platform reduces hardware costs by doing away with the requirement for LIDAR altogether.