The large SUV Li L9, also known as the Lixiang L9, used to be wildly popular in China when it was launched but promptly lost the market to the competitors when they started copying the same formula. The automaker has now updated it, and while the exterior makes it look like a mild facelift, the hardware below it is genuinely next-gen.
On the outside, there’s little to tell the new Li L9 “Livis” (that’s what the Gen.2 is called) from the predecessor. The bumpers have been slightly reworked, the headlights and taillights mildly updated, and that’s about it. The wheels still measure 21 inches in diameter, but those who want larger rims may now opt for a 22-inch set. Last but not least, you can now order a two-tone paintjob that the manufacturer calls “old luxury”.
The dimensions of the SUV now amount to 5,255 x 2,000 x 1,810 mm (205.3 x 78.1 x 70.7 inches) with a wheelbase spanning 3,125 mm (122.1 inches). Such tiny differences from the old generation don’t really reflect how much has changed in the chassis department. The L9 Livis features adjustable active air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and drive-by-wire steering that eliminates the physical link between the steering wheel and the wheels.
A 1.5-liter petrol engine under the hood produces 156 PS (154 hp / 115 kW) functioning as a power generator for the main powertrain. Its specifications remain to be revealed, but it’s worth pointing out that the first generation had two e-motors and 449 PS (443 hp / 330 kW) total. A 72.7-kWh battery pack gave it up to 420 km (261 miles) per the Chinese range standard.
Sales should begin in the second half of the year. There’s still no official word on the specific launch date, but the company reckons the new Li L9 Livis will be priced from 559,800 Yuan ($81,000). That’s a huge 120,000-Yuan ($17,400) leap up from the price of its predecessor.
