Li Auto has shown more of the cabin of its forthcoming i9 flagship electric SUV, including second-row seats that can swivel around to face passengers in the third row.
The six-seater will make its full debut in China on Sept 16. Li Auto had already confirmed through its August sales update that the i9 would join its battery-electric range in mid-September, describing it as a flagship family SUV.
Founder and chief executive Li Xiang has now released interior images ahead of the unveiling, presenting the i9 as a more city-oriented counterpart to the MEGA Home MPV.
The second-row zero-gravity seats can rotate 180 degrees to create a face-to-face seating arrangement with the third row. Their extended leg rests can also meet the rear seats to form a larger resting area. A movable side table is another visible feature.
Rotating seats are not unique to Li Auto. The recently launched Xiaomi SkyNomad N90 and N70 also use swivelling seats to turn their cabins into a social space, although the arrangement is different: the N90 and N70’s front seats rotate rearwards to face the second row.
China’s regulatory filings give the i9 a length of 5,225mm, width of 1,970mm and height of 1,752mm, with a long 3,168mm wheelbase. It uses front and rear electric motors rated at 150kW and 250kW respectively.
That gives the i9 considerably more space between the axles than its 5.23-metre overall length might suggest, something Li Auto is using to emphasise the packaging benefits of its dedicated electric platform.
Battery capacity, range, charging performance and pricing should be confirmed at launch.
The i9 will sit above the i6 and i8 in Li Auto’s battery-electric SUV range.
