Blogger captures first glimpse of Li Auto’s first-ever BEV, and it is unique looking to say the least
A passerby in China caught a look at Li Auto’s upcoming MPV called the Mega – it’s first-ever BEV model, before it officially debuts in December. Li Auto has already been touting the multi-purpose vehicle as a future best seller – despite its price… and its look. See more for yourself.
Li Auto ($LI) is a relatively popular automaker in China that hasn’t even celebrated its tenth birthday yet. While the company has made a name for itself overseas on the wings of four models deliveried since 2019, we don’t tend to cover it much because, well… Li Auto doesn’t make BEVs.
The automaker specializes in EREVs, which stands for “extended-range electric vehicles,” that are essentially, glorified plug-in hybrids. We at Electrek usually lose interest as soon as we hear the word “combustion,” but Li Auto has stayed on our radar because it has the potential to remove those range extenders from its EVs and join the zero-emissions party.
While the Chinese Automaker is by no means giving up one EREVs yet (it launched 3 of its 4 current models in 2022 alone), Li Auto has shared plans for its first BEV model called Mega. Mega is a fully electric MPV that Li Auto initially announced during the Chengdu Auto show this past August.
Although the public is not slotted to see a full reveal of the Mega BEV until December, a Weibo user happened to be nearby Li Auto’s facility near Guangdong and captured video of a camouflaged Mega BEV cruising by.
Li Auto’s first BEV is an aerodynamic MPV with a caboose
The images above were pulled from a video posted be Weibo user Lao Qi – who has over 1.5 million followers on the Chinese social media site. As you can see in the video, Li Auto’s Mega MPV pulls out of the lot and cruises by, giving us a nice up close look at its oblong side profile.
If you’re into bloated Priuses, this could be the BEV for you – Li Auto has certainly taken aerodynamics and efficiency as a main priority in designing this MPV which the blogger describes as a “pure, high-speed railcar.” We’d argue it looks more like a roller skate, but hey… it’s still sexier than a mini van.
As we’ve seen so far in the niche but growing segment of MPVs in China, it’s truly difficult to make an EV of such size sleek and sporty. One could argue that Li Auto’s upcoming BEV is even the sleekest of the MPVs when compared to XPeng’s upcoming X9, the ZEEKR 009, or even the Denza D9.
Hell, by simply calling its MPV the Mega without including the number nine, Li Auto already appears to be separating itself away from the pack. All jokes about its looks aside, it will be the performance specs and available technology that will truly determine whether the Mega MPV is as successful as Li Auto expects it to be – especially since its coming from a company that hasn’t delivered a true BEV to market yet.
We are sure to learn more this December, when Li Auto officially removes the camo before deliveries begin in China in February 2024. The Mega is expected to start at a price of RMB 500,000 yuan ($68,700).
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In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss the new Tesla Model S/X “refresh”, robotaxi service is coming, a new EV price war in China, and more.
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Kia’s electric SUV has already become a hit in several overseas markets. The EV5 is now arriving as the first electric Kia to be assembled in Singapore, as it rolls out to new global markets.
Kia EV5 arrives as its first locally made EV in Singapore
Shortly after its introduction at the 2023 Chengdu Motor Show, Kia launched the EV5 in China, with prices starting at about 20,000 (149,800 yuan).
Kia is now seeing a full-on recovery in China, largely thanks to the new electric SUV. Its joint venture partner in China, Yueda Kia, ranked first in sales growth among JV brands.
In China, Kia sold over 248,000 vehicles last year, the first time it has crossed the 200,000 mark since 2020. The EV5 is made at Yueda Kia’s manufacturing plant in China and exported to overseas markets like Australia and Thailand.
In fact, the EV5 is currently the fourth best-selling EV in Australia this year through April, ahead of every BYD vehicle.
The EV5 is slightly smaller than the Tesla Model Y at 4,615 mm in length, 1,875 mm in width, and 1,715 mm in height.
After launching the EV5 in Singapore on May 28, Kia hit a milestone. The electric SUV arrives as Kia’s first locally assembled EV in the region.
The EV5 was officially launched during an event at Hyundai Motor Innovation Groupe Centre Singapore, where it will be made. It will join other Hyundai Motor electric cars, including the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6. Hyundai also builds the IONIQ 5 robotaxi here and exports it to the US.
Kia’s distributor, Cycle and Carriage, will sell the EV5 in three variants: Air, Earth, and a sporty GT-line. Two battery sizes will be available, 64.2 kWh and 88.1 kWh, providing range of 400 km and 540 km, respectively.
Prices for the base Air trim start at $194,000 (SDG), including COE. The Earth and GT-Line models start at $210,500 (SDG) and $260,000 (SDG) with COE.
Later this year, Kia will launch the global version of the EV5, which will be made at its Autoland Gwangju manufacturing plant in South Korea. It will be sold in overseas markets, including Europe and Canada, but not the US.
Kia confirmed the EV5 will be “exclusively for the Canadian market” in North America. It will be available in FWD and AWD powertrains. Two battery sizes will be offered: 60.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh, providing a range of up to 500 km (310 miles).
Source: Cycle & Carriage Kia Pte Ltd, The Straits Times
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Do we smell a three-peat? The team at Ford Performance is once again competing at the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and this year is bringing a “Super” version of the all-electric Mustang Mach-E… At least we think there’s a Mach-E in there somewhere.
Pikes Peak—the “Race to the Clouds.” This annual event spanning 12.42 miles to an elevation of over 14,000 feet in the mountains above Colorado has been celebrated for over 100 years. While its hill climb is rooted in tradition and traditional vehicles, it has become an annual opportunity for EV engineers to showcase how much better all-electric models can be.
Last year, Rivian, Hyundai, and Ford Performance all impressed, with the former two automakers snagging records for their vehicle types, while Ford’s “F-150 Supertruck” took the “King of the Mountain” crown for the fastest climb of the day.
This past January, we learned that Ford Performance planned to defend its title at Pikes Peak with its third all-electric demonstrator in as many years. At the time, we only saw a sheeted vehicle that appeared to be relatively low with a massive spoiler, but the glowing front emblem left no doubt that it was a modified version of the Mustang Mach-E.
Today, Ford Performance unveiled the BEV it will use to climb Pikes Peak, which it is calling the Super Mustang Mach-E. Have a gander.
Super Mach-E will try to hold Ford’s Pikes Peak crown
Ford Performance shared the images seen above in an Instagram post with the following caption:
12 miles of mountain road. 156 turns. 14,115 feet of elevation. This is the @pikespeakhillclimb, and we’re bringing 6,125 lbs of downforce — and @romaindumas_official — to take it on with the Super Mustang Mach-E.
From the post, we’ve learned the Super Mustang Mach-E will be driven up Pikes Peak by none other than veteran French racer Romain Dumas. Dumas has a wealth of experience in some of the world’s largest (and longest) races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nürburgring 24 Hours, and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
He has been contracted to Ford Performance since 2022 and has won two of his five Hill Climb victories with the American automaker in the past two years (although the 2023 SuperVan victory was in the division and second overall). Could Dumas tally his sixth career victory at Pike Peak with a three-peat with Ford in the Super Mustang Mach-E?
Ford Performance and Romain Dumas have shown they can do it, so it’s a serious possibility. We will find out on June 22, 2025, when the 103rd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place.
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