Peter Lyon
January 23, 2025
The covers have come off the XPeng X9 electric MPV. At a media preview this week, the X9 made its local debut in Malaysia. A representative for Bermaz XPeng stated that they had already started taking reservations for the model, ahead of its formal launch in Malaysia, even though no specs have been released as of yet.
With three rows of seats arranged in a 2-2-3 configuration, the X9, as mentioned above, is a fully electric luxury MPV that is even longer than its main rival, the Zeekr 009 but with a shorter wheelbase. Both its size and its standard equipment dwarf those of the industry standard—the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire.
The 3rd row back seat accommodations, which are accessible through its sliding doors, are obviously the main attraction. Since the unveiling, XPeng has mentioned that a second base variation will include a set of regular captain chairs with a walk-through pathway in between to access the third row. But the unit displayed here boasts the upgraded “zero gravity” captain seats, which can automatically recline to a comfortable lounging position.
Additional interior amenities include a huge panoramic glass roof, a hot-and-cold “fridge,” seat heating and ventilation for the first and second rows, and a 21.4-inch touchscreen TV for the second row that is fitted on the ceiling and has access to streaming services like Apple TV, Spotify, and others.
The majority of the functions are centred on the 17.3-inch central control screen, which is a hallmark of the Tesla-like dashboard design found in all other XPeng vehicles. However, unlike Teslas, the X9 does include standard stalks behind the steering wheel and a small letterbox-style instrument cluster.
Again, no details have been revealed so far, but based on its right-hand drive export specifications from Hong Kong, the X9 will likely only be offered in a front-wheel drive configuration here in Malaysia, featuring a single motor with a max output of 320 hp.
This is paired to two battery options: the Standard Range variant gets an 84.5 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery, translating to 480 km of electric range (WLTP), as well as a Long Range version with a 101.5 kWh pack, for a rated range of 575 km (WLTP). Both variants are rated for a 0-100 km/h sprint of 7.7 seconds.
The dynamic rear-wheel steering system and twin chamber air suspension come as standard, resulting in a minimum turning radius of only 5.4 meters, which is even less than that of the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Well, the X90 certainly gives Toyota’s Alphard a run for its money. And in comparison to the Toyota’s hybrid powertrain, the Xpeng is fully electric to boot. We won’t have to wait much longer for the X9 to officially launch in Malaysia, since reservations for the electric MPV are now being accepted. Given that the Denza D9 is also scheduled to launch in Q1 2025, this year is looking to be a busy year for the electric MPV industry.
