Xpeng P5 launched in China before the Norway launch

Xpeng Motors launched the Xpeng P5 in China on 15 September 2021. The P5 is the Chinese automaker’s third production model, and deliveries in the home market will commence at the end of October 2021.

Including subsidies, the Xpeng P5’s prices start at CNY 157,900 (EUR 20,825) and go up to CNY 223,900 (EUR 29,530). It’s a threat to Tesla’s locally manufactured Model 3, which costs CNY 251,740 (EUR 33,201) before subsidies/CNY 235,900 (EUR 31,112) after subsidies in the base configuration.

Insiders say that the P5 is the brand’s testbed to understand the customer preference for a family car with higher levels of intelligence. The P5 brings some of the most advanced driver assistance systems to China’s middle-class, He Xiaopeng, Co‐founder, Chairman, and CEO, Xpeng Motors, said, at the launch.

Video: Hey Xpeng/Youtube

XPilot P5 Autonomous driving

The Xpeng P5’s biggest highlight is its autonomous driving capability in the city, with the XPilot 3.5 system. Xpeng Motors says that this is the world’s first production smart EV to feature automotive-grade LiDAR technology. Claimed to be the most advanced autonomous driving system in any production car, XPilot 3.5 consists of 32 perception sensors and 1 high-precision positioning unit (GNSS + IMU).

The 32 perception sensors include 2 LiDAR units, 12 ultrasonic sensors, 5 millimeter-wave radars, and 13 high-resolution cameras. Xpeng Motors says that the LiDAR units are “double-prism” units that can recognize pedestrians, cyclists and scooters, static obstacles, and road works. They can function properly even at night and in other low-light conditions. Backlighting, alternating light, and dark illumination in tunnels also don’t affect its functioning.

Weibo user 大包子狸 has shown Xpeng Motors testing P5’s autonomous driving capabilities near its headquarters (Guangzhou, China) in a 30-second clip. The video shows that the car can recognise traffic lights, change lanes, and take a left turn at unprotected intersections. There weren’t many vehicles or pedestrians around the car at this time, though.

Xpeng P5 specifications & variants

The Xpeng P5 is a mid-size model, and the company is pitching it as an alternative to the Tesla Model 3, the Mercedes C-Class, the BMW 3 Series (the forthcoming BMW 3 Series EV). At 4,808 mm long, it is 114 mm longer than the Tesla Model 3 (4,694 mm). However, despite the greater length, its wheelbase, measuring 2,768 mm is shorter (-107 mm) than the Tesla EV (2,875 mm). Thanks to the sleek design, the Chinese electric car’s drag coefficient is a low, 0.223 Cd.

Xpeng Motors offers the P5 in six configurations. A single electric motor generating 155 kW of power and 310 Nm of torque is standard. Accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.5 seconds, and the top speed is 170 km/h. Depending on the configuration, the range (NEDC) varies between 460 and 600 km.

Xpeng P5 SpecificationP5 460GP5 460EP5 550GP5 550EP5 550PP5 600P
Battery Pack Capacity (Total)55.9 kWh55.9 kWh66.2 kWh66.2 kWh66.2 kWh71.4 kWh
Range (NEDC)460 km460 km550 km550 km550 km600 km
Fast-charging Time (30-80% SoC)≥ 30 min≥ 30 min≥ 35 min≥ 35 min≥ 35 min≥ 38 min
Xpeng P5 specifications

Xavier supercomputing platform, 5 high-precision millimeter-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, 4 autonomous driving surround-view cameras, sub-meter high-precision positioning system, solar roof, and 360-degree panoramic parking assistant are available in higher configurations. In addition to LiDAR, the base configuration packs tech features like a mobile app-based virtual key with sharing function, Bluetooth digital key, 15.6-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system, 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster, 4 ultrasonic sensors, and V2L function. The infotainment system and instrument cluster run on Xmart OS 3.0 (powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon SA8155P).

The 460E, 550E, 550P, and 600P configurations have the XPilot 2.5 autonomous driving assistance system as standard. Customers can upgrade it to XPilot 3.0 in the 460E and 550E configurations and XPilot 3.5 in the 550P and 600P configurations. Here is the difference in terms of hardware:

HardwareXPilot 3.0XPilot 3.5
5 millimeter-wave radarsYesYes
12 ultrasonic sensorsYesYes
13 autonomous driving assist camerasYesNo
13 HD autonomous driving assist camerasNoYes
1 sub-meter-range high-precision positioning unitYesYes
2 LiDAR unitsNoYes

Other attractions of the P5 include Sleep mode, projector with Theater mode, built-in fridge, and 1.493 square-meter transparent panoramic canopy glass roof. A solar roof is available optionally.

Aspect\SpecificationP5 460GP5 460EP5 550GP5 550EP5 550PP5 600P
LiDAROneOneOneOneTwoTwo
XPilot HardwareNoXpilot 3.0NoXPilot 3.0XPilot 3.5XPilot 3.5
XPilot 2.5 ADASNoYesNoYesYesYes
Xavier
Supercomputing platform
NoYesNoYesYesYes
Sub-meter high-precision positioning systemNoYesNoYesYesYes
Solar RoofNoNoNoNoNoOptional
Snapdragon SA8155P processorYesYesYesYesYesYes
15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment systemYesYesYesYesYesYes
Voice AssistantYesYesYesYesYesYes
Sleeping KitNoNoNoNoNoYes

Xpeng P5 garners good initial response

The Xpeng P5 debuted on 14 April 2021, and it is off to a great start in China. Li Pengcheng, General Manager of Public Relations, Xpeng Motors, has announced on Weibo that the company received 6,159 orders for the P5 electric sedan within 24 hours of the launch. 90% of the orders were in a configuration featuring XPilot 3.0 or XPilot 3.5. 54% of the orders were of LiDAR-equipped configurations, the only configurations that feature XPilot 3.5. The Weibo post also suggests that 54% of the launch day customers have ordered the car with a ‘Smart Sleeping Cockpit’ feature that will allow them to sleep in the car comfortably.

On the launch in Norway

Twitter user Moneyball (@DKurac), who watches Chinese OEMs closely, said that an Xpeng P5 Norway launch is planned, and other European markets will also get the electric sedan. Norway could be the first overseas market for the P5 worldwide like it was for the G3.

Xpeng sales rise by 388%

Xpeng Motors sold 45,992 EVs between January and August 2021, marking a whopping 334% year-over-year growth. In August 2021, the company sold 7,214 EVs. This was a record month for the P7, of which Xpeng Motors delivered 6,165 units – 209% more than in August 2020. The remaining (1,049 units) came from the G3.

Xpeng 5 FAQs

What are the Xpeng P5 rivals?

The main competitor to the Xpeng P5 is the Tesla Model 3 and the upcoming BMW 3 Series electric.

What is the Xpeng P5 range?

Depending on the configuration, the range (NEDC) varies between 460 km and 600 km.

When is the P5 expected in Europe?

EVW expects the EV to be available in the Old Continent in 2022.

Featured Image Source: Xpeng Motors