Li Auto has officially launched the i9, a new flagship six-seat battery-electric SUV, with a single Home trim priced at 369,800 yuan (about $52,100) as a Chinese guide price before taxes and incentives. Orders opened on September 16, with display cars arriving at Li Auto retail centers nationwide, according to Chinese outlet D1EV.
Design and space
The i9 is built on Li Auto's second-generation dedicated EV platform and measures 5,225 mm long, 1,970 mm wide, and 1,752 mm tall, with a 3,168 mm wheelbase. The company claims interior space exceeds that of many SUVs over 5.3 meters long. Its drag coefficient of 0.215 is the lowest among all three-row SUVs, contributing to a CLTC energy consumption of 15.1 kWh per 100 km, which Li Auto says is the lowest for a four-wheel-drive SUV in the 5.2-meter class.
The cabin features a 'home-like' design with Nappa leather seats, ambient lighting, and a 'Sweet Home' welcome light carpet. A unique 'rotating door' third-row entry system and a 'one-step mode' that rapidly slides the second-row seats forward aim to ease access to the third row. The i9 offers three interior configurations: Home Living Room, Home Cinema, and Home Suite, enabled by rotating second-row zero-gravity seats.
Powertrain and charging
The i9 is equipped with a 101 kWh ternary lithium 5C ultra-fast charging battery and dual-motor intelligent all-wheel drive. It achieves a CLTC combined range of 705 km (approximately 590-620 km WLTP, est.), and can add 500 km of range in 10 minutes of charging. The vehicle also features steer-by-wire, rear-wheel steering, and a 5.3-meter turning radius, which Li Auto claims rivals sedans for maneuverability.
Standard equipment includes a third-generation dual-chamber air suspension, four full-size zero-gravity seats, an electric front trunk, and a 29-inch 6K panoramic display. The i9 debuts Apple CarPlay support, allowing native car functions to continue running while CarPlay is active. Li Auto's self-developed Mahe M100 chip powers the intelligent driving system, with the Mahe VLA 2.5 software update scheduled for October, promising improved understanding of road environments and traffic participant intent.
Safety features include the largest front crash shield among production SUVs, a rear anti-collision beam designed for 92 km/h high-speed rear impacts, and 11 airbags. The i9 uses seven aluminum die-cast parts and a reinforced body structure. Optional packages include a dual-Mahe M100 kit with additional lidars and a 29-speaker Home Theater audio system, priced at 20,000 yuan and 10,000 yuan respectively during the launch period.
