Li Auto L9 Livis revealed as a new high-tech flagship

The electric car market is moving at breakneck speed, especially in China, where a new EV is unveiled pretty much every day. Li Auto is one of the major automakers trying to keep up with the market, and it has just revealed its latest model, the Li Auto L9 Livis. But the new L9 isn't a simple refresh of the popular SUV. It is a flagship vehicle packed with some of the most advanced technology ever seen in EVs. The original L9 was a massive hit when it arrived in 2022, but new competition from brands like Huawei and Zeekr has forced Li Auto to think bigger.

The Li Auto L9 Livis is an EREV - Extended Range Electric Vehicle. It uses electric motors to drive the wheels, but keeps a small gasoline engine on board to act as a generator. This setup has become very popular in China as it helps drivers avoid "range anxiety" because the car can charge its own battery while moving. The new Livis model takes this idea and adds a high-end luxury twist, hoping to win back buyers who want the very best.

The world is changing, and while we used to compare cars based purely on their mechanical performance, nowadays we have to compare their "brains" as well. The Li Auto L9 Livis is incredibly "smart" - it uses two Mach 100 chips designed by Li Auto themselves using a 5nm process. Together, they provide a computing power of 2,560 TOPS, more than almost any other car on the road today.

Li Auto calls this the "most powerful intelligent driving brain," and it's hard to argue with that statement. This massive amount of computing power helps the car's self-driving systems. It uses a LiDAR sensor on the roof to "see" the world in 3D. With so much processing power, the car can make decisions faster than a human ever could. But having a big brain is only half the battle. We will have to see how well the software actually handles real-world traffic.

The suspension system on this new model is equally impressive. It uses a brand-new 800V active suspension that is so strong it can push up on each wheel with a force of 10,000 Newtons. Because it can move each wheel independently, the car no longer needs traditional anti-roll bars. This new setup helps the SUV stay flat through corners and stay comfortable on bumpy roads.

To make this large vehicle easier to drive in the city, Li Auto added four-wheel steering - the back wheels turn slightly, making the turning circle much smaller. There's also "steer-by-wire" and "brake-by-wire" technology, with everything done with electrical signals instead of mechanical connections.

The new L9 Livis has grown compared to the older versions. It is now expected to be over 17.4 ft long - the previous model was about 17.13 ft long, 7 ft wide, and 5.9 ft tall. The new version still looks very similar to the rest of the Li Auto family but has some key changes. You will notice new door handles that sit flush against the body and a redesigned light strip across the back.

The car also looks more expensive thanks to its new paint job. You can get it in two-tone colors that look like a luxury Maybach. It sits on large 22-inch rims with wide tires to give it a sturdy, powerful look. Inside, it remains a comfortable six-seater designed for families who want a "living room on wheels."

All this new technology comes with a higher price tag. The Li Auto L9 Livis will cost RMB 559,800 in China ($80,685). This is a jump of roughly $14,400 over the older top-tier model, and it puts the L9 Livis in direct competition with some very fast and powerful electric cars from other luxury brands.

We are still waiting for some final details. Rumors say it will have a 73 kWh battery and very fast charging, but the company has not officially confirmed the exact driving range or top speed for this specific trim. Earlier versions of the L9 could travel over 870 miles on a full tank and a full charge, so expectations are high. Li Auto needs this car to be a win after seeing their sales numbers drop over the last year.

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