XPeng Motors celebrated its annual Tech Day event in China earlier today, which was renamed “AI Day” for good reason. The topic of artificial intelligence dominated the Chinese mobility company’s incoming technologies, which were abundant. We got updates on a new in-house AI computing chip, a new Xpeng platform to support Level 4 autonomous robotaxis, flying cars, and eVTOLs, a new humanoid robot called “Iron,” complete with an existential launch video, and a surprising adoption of combustion-powered extenders that deliver up to 970 miles of additional range.
Today marked XPeng Motor’s sixth consecutive Tech Day event – something we look forward to each fall as it is sure to be filled with exciting updates and debuts from a mobility company that continues to expand and dabble in a little bit of everything, not just passenger EVs.
Last year, we saw the debut of XPeng’s X9 MPV, a humanoid robot called the PX5, and plenty of AI-centric software upgrades. Since then, we’ve seen the X9 officially launch in China along with a rollout of OTA updates to XPeng’s operating systems, including its XNGP ADAS.
This past April, during the Beijing Auto Show, XPeng gave the public a preview of some of the technologies explained further during today’s Tech Day event. That included AI-centric chips, Level 4 autonomous robotaxis plans, and a new neural network called “XNet.” We also saw some fresh updates, including a new humanoid robot, an eVTOL, and a new gas range extender that could deliver some of the farthest-driving vehicles in the world. Let’s dig in.
XPeng shares flying car update during Tech Day 2024
There’s a lot to unfold here, but we’ll start with a mainstay in XPeng news, flying cars through its air mobility entity, AeroHT. Today’s talks were led by the “Land Aircraft Carrier” – an eVTOL/vehicle combo that debuted last year.
As we previously reported, the revolutionary land and air vehicle is slotted for scaled production in 2026, and AeroHT recently broke ground on the facility in China that will build them. There is not much of an update here. Still, XPeng founder and chairman He Xiaopeng reiterated that the Land Air Carrier will showcase its first public flight demonstration later this month before pre-orders open in December.
In addition to its modular Land Air Carrier and eventual plans for a bonafide flying BEV with propellers on its roof, Xiaopeng shared that AeroHT is also developing a dedicated full tilt-rotor eVTOL featuring six seats and hybrid power. The aerial vessel will have a maximum range of 500+ km (311 miles) and reach a top speed of 360 km/h (224 mph).
These flying cars and eVTOLs will be powered by a new AI “Turing” chip developed in-house by XPeng.
In-house AI chips and a new platform
XPeng renamed its Tech Day event “AI Day” this year for a reason. Artificial intelligence was at the forefront of most of He Xiaopeng’s conversations on stage, and the debut of the mobility company’s new Turing chip was also a part of the event.
The company showcased a new Turing AI Intelligent Driving System, powered by XPeng’s proprietary Turing AI chip, described as “a world-first chip designed for AI vehicles, robots, and flying cars.” The new chip features a 40-core processor and supports models with up to 30 billion parameters, delivering the power of three high-performance chips in one.
Xiaopeng explained that the Turin chip has already completed over 2,700 functional verifications in a mere 40 days and has achieved three times the industry standard for development efficiency during that time.
In addition to powering XPeng’s flying cars and humanoid robots (more on that below), Xiaopeng used the 2024 Tech Day event to unveil a new Canghai Platform that will enable full Level 4 autonomous driving. XPeng has already been promising fully autonomous robotaxis by 2025, and we now have a better idea of the technology that will support that, again, centered around its new Turing AI chip.
The company explained that the new platform would act as the previously teased neural network for XPeng’s new line of AI-centric vehicles, supporting driving (with or without a human in the driver’s seat) with enhanced safety features, 33x bandwidth, and 12x faster camera image processing, thus creating “a foundation for full-scenario AI-enabled driving experiences.”
The “Hawkeye” pure vision ADAS system can see the world around it at 720 degrees without blind spots. Per XPeng during Tech Day:
XPeng’s Turing AI system marks a pivotal step toward L4 autonomy, with continual model updates from cloud-based models, ensuring a highly responsive, ever-evolving smart driving experience.
In addition to autonomous robotaxis, XPeng’s Turing AI chip will power a new humanoid robot called “Iron” which made its official debut at Tech Day.
XPeng introduces a new humanoid robot called “Iron”
One of the stars of today’s event was Iron, a serious upgrade to the robots XPeng has debuted at Tech Days in the past. With today’s debut, XPeng becomes the latest tech company developing and implementing impressive robot technology that could one day take over full assembly of its vehicles.
Per XPeng, the Turing AI chip enables the Iron bots to think and remember like humans (spooky) and also enables its hands and feet to move autonomously. The robot’s hands also use a 1:1 human hand size, with 15 degrees of freedom.
The debut included an interesting video in which Iron steps into a room and admires famous sculptures like Rodin’s “The Thinker” and “Discobolus” by Myron. Iron even copies the Discobolus pose, as seen in XPeng’s video below:
XPeng’s Tech Day event includes a new gas range extender
Perhaps the biggest surprise from XPeng’s 2024 Tech Day was the news that it is shifting its business strategy from all-BEV to include some combustion with a new gas-powered range extender.
On the stage in Guangzhou earlier today, He Xiaopeng unveiled XPeng’s Kunpeng Super Electric System. Xiaopeng says this next-generation solution “brings together XPeng’s advancements in latest AI-defined mobility innovations to deliver an unparalleled charging and range experience.”
The system consists of an 800V platform powered by XPeng’s battery technology, which supports 5C fast charging and can charge from 10% to 80% in 12 minutes. New to the party is a hybrid silicon carbide coaxial electric drive, which, according to XPeng, will offer industry-leading efficiency and reliability. The range extender is also extra quiet, outputting noise levels as low as 1 dB.
The automaker has also once again integrated AI into the power optimization system, which enables a seamless transition between pure electric and range-extended driving modes. As you can see from the Tech Day image above, XPeng’s new system offers 430 km (267 miles) of all-electric range and a combined range of over 1,400 km (870 miles).
That’s a lot to take in, but it’s all for now. Check back with Electrek soon as we await the official launch of XPeng’s next BEV model, the P7+. In the meantime, you can watch the full 2024 Tech Day presentation on XPeng’s Weibo page.
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Audi has launched the new 2025 RS e-tron GT and S e-tron GT to update its top-performance EV lineup with what is now the most powerful and fastest accelerating production vehicle in the brand’s history.
With almost 1,000 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of just 2.4 seconds, Audi’s electric flagship joins the electric supercar ranks, where efficiency meets performance.
Two Models, One Bold Vision
The 2025 e-tron GT family now includes two models: the S e-tron GT as an impressive entry point and the headline-grabbing RS e-tron GT Performance. Both models benefit from significant upgrades, including improved battery capacity, range, and faster charging.
S e-tron GT: With 670 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds, the S model brings thrilling performance to a broader audience. Its range now stretches to an impressive EPA-estimated 300 miles, making it as practical as it is powerful.
RS e-tron GT Performance: This model doesn’t just push boundaries—it obliterates them. Alongside its record-breaking acceleration, it features advanced thermal management, a new 105 kWh battery, and cutting-edge chassis technologies.
The new 105 kWh battery pack enables up to 300 miles of range on the S e-tron GT. No range figures are not available for the RS yet.
Audi has packed the 2025 e-tron GT models with a suite of performance-enhancing upgrades:
Push-to-Pass Boost: Unique to the RS Performance model, this feature delivers an extra 94 horsepower at speeds above 19 mph for ten seconds, transforming straightaways into launch pads.
Advanced Recuperation: Both models now recover up to 400 kW during braking, which is absolutely insane
Faster Charging: DC fast charging power has increased to 320 kW, enabling a 10-80% charge in just 18 minutes.
The four-ring brand has refined the e-tron GT’s already impressive handling with new active suspension technology, offering better cornering dynamics and enhanced ride comfort. The RS Performance mode, exclusive to the top model, optimizes torque distribution and suspension settings for maximum grip and precision on challenging roads or track conditions.
While staying true to its sleek grand tourer DNA, the 2025 e-tron GT lineup introduces new exterior colors, a reworked front fascia, and unique forged carbon design elements. The RS model, in particular, showcases Audi’s first use of forged carbon fiber for interior and exterior accents, delivering a high-tech, lightweight look.
Audi RS e-tron GT Pictures
Audi S e-tron GT Pictures
Inside, Audi debuts a glass roof with adjustable transparency, allowing drivers to customize the ambiance with a liquid crystal film that transitions from clear to frosted.
Pricing and Availability
Both models are now available for order through U.S. Audi dealerships:
S e-tron GT: Starting at $125,500
RS e-tron GT Performance: Starting at $167,000
Hopefully, we will get a chance to get behind the wheels of this new e-tron GT lineup soon because these look like significant improvements over the previous model years.
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For a nearly $50,000 SUV, Honda’s Prologue is hard to pass up right now, with lease prices starting at just $229 per month. Honda is now offering its $229/mo Prologue EV lease deal in more US states. Here’s how you can take advantage of the savings.
Despite just kicking off deliveries in March, Honda’s electric SUV is already among the top-selling EVs in the US.
According to Kelley Blue Book, the Honda Prologue was the fifth best-selling EV in the US in the third quarter. With 12,644 models sold in Q3, Honda’s electric SUV outpaced rival SUVs, including the Hyundai IONIQ 5 (11,590), Chevy Equinox EV (9,772), Volkswagen ID.4 (4,518), and Toyota bZ4X (4,109).
Only the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Cybertruck, and Ford Mustang Mach-E outsold the Prologue last quarter. However, with over 4,100 Prologue’s sold in October, Honda’s electric SUV topped the Mach-E (3,313).
Honda’s electric SUV is taking the US by storm, and now massive incentives are making it more affordable than ever.
The 2024 Honda Prologue went on sale last month in California, with leases starting as low as $229 for 36 months (10,000 miles per year). Now, Honda is expanding the offer to at least 17 states.
2024 Honda Prologue Elite (Source: Honda)
Honda expands $229 per month Prologue EV lease deal
According to online auto data firm CarsDirect, Honda is now offering the Prologue EV lease deal in Colorado, Connecticut, Washington DC, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.
The $229 per month lease deal includes $1,000 bonus cash for current Honda lessees and those leasing from rival brands. With $1,299 due at signing, the effective cost is just $259 per month.
The lease offer is a steal for a nearly $50,000 electric SUV. The 2024 Honda Prologue EX FWD has a range of up to 296 miles, while AWD models have a range of up to 281 miles.
2024 Honda Prologue trim
Starting Price (w/o $1,395 destination fee)
Starting price after tax credit (w/o $1,395 destination fee)
Starting price after tax credit (with $1,395 destination fee)
EPA Range (miles)
EX (FWD)
$47,400
$39,900
$41,295
296
EX (AWD)
$50,400
$42,900
$44,295
281
Touring (FWD)
$51.700
$44,200
$45,595
296
Touring (AWD)
$54,700
$47,200
$48,595
281
Elite (AWD)
$57,900
$50,400
$51,795
273
2024 Honda Prologue prices and range by trim
In other parts of the US, Honda’s Prologue is still listed at just $259 per month. With $1,299 due at signing, the monthly rate is $289, still under $300. However, you may want to act fast. The deals end on January 2, 2025.
We’ve got a bunch of fresh Black Friday Green Deals for you today as many brands and outlets have all launched their full savings through Cyber Monday. We have exclusive new dual low prices on Anker’s SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station, as well as the bundle option, that gives you up to $2,299 in savings and starts from $2,099. Next, we have Jackery’s full Black Friday sale spread with up to $3,200 in savings, split across its direct site and Amazon, starting as low as $89. From there we have a large lineup of Husqvarna lawncare equipment that have had prices cut by up to $751, starting from $95, as well as GE’s Smart Indoor Smoker that is down at $599. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s full Black Friday savings on ALLPOWERS power stations and GE’s 2-in-1 electric washer/ventless dryer, and more.
Exclusive deals on Anker SOLIX F3800 power station and bundle saves you up to $2,299 at new lows from $2,099
Wellbots is giving 9to5Toys readers two amazing exclusive discounts on Anker’s SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station and a subsequent bundle. The first of these deals is on the lone F3800 unit for $2,099 shipped, after using the promo code 9TO5ANKER300 at checkout for an additional $300 off. Normally going for $3,999 at full price, discounts coming direct from Anker have taken costs down as low as $2,999, with Wellbots having previously delivered the former lowest price of $2,499 back in June. Today though, this title-holding low has been swiftly knocked from its place as we’re getting an even bigger 48% markdown that slashes a full $1,900 off the going rate, landing it at a new all-time low that falls $400 under its former low.
Some people want a backup power solution tailored for a specific use, while others look for the best model that offers the most widespread versatility of uses – Anker’s SOLIX F3800 prominently positions itself in the latter of these two needs with a 3,840Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity that you can invest in over time to expand upwards to 26.9kWh with additional equipment like expansion batteries. It pumps out the juice your devices and appliances need at up to 6,000W with an array of 15+ output ports to cover connection types – with dedicated hook-ups for your RV, electric car, and even your home’s circuit breaker (but you will require either a Home Backup Kit for sectional support or the Home Power Panel for whole-home coverage on top of connection capabilities with your roof panels.
The second exclusive offer here is on Anker’s SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station that comes along with an expansion battery for $3,299 shipped, after using the promo code 500ANKER9TO5 at checkout for an additional $500 off. This deal beats out the former low price (also from Wellbots) that we saw in August by $100 for a new all-time low rate that ultimately saves you $2,299 off its full price tag. With this bundle, you’re getting the full versatility we discussed above while also getting a doubled 7,680Wh LiFePO4 capacity, giving you plenty of power to keep devices and appliances running for days.
Massive Jackery Black Friday sale now live with up to $3,200 in savings on power stations & solar generators from $89
Jackery’s Black Friday sale is officially in full swing, taking up to 50% off a wide array of its power stations, bundles, and accessories spread out between its direct site and through its official Amazon storefront. One of the many notable standouts this time around is the brand’s new Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station that has dropped to $799 shipped, after clipping the on-page $100 off coupon. Since releasing in September at $1,499, we’ve already seen frequent discounts on this unit, with the biggest of them having come through last month’s Prime Day savings event, which saw costs lowered to $999. Now with these Black Friday savings, you’re looking at an even greater $700 markdown that beats out its Prime Day pricing by $200 and drops things down to a new and surprising all-time low. You can also grab the station direct from Jackery with two 200W solar panels for $1,599, down from $2,499.
Built with exclusive CBT tech and a honeycomb design, which Jackery describes as contributing to “the smallest, lightest home backup power,” the new Explorer 2000 v2 model provides a well-rounded 2,042Wh LiFePO4 capacity with a 2,200W power output that peaks at 4,400W – giving you more than enough to cover campsites, travel routes, and even home backup needs for multiple days. It delivers power to your devices and appliances via the seven dedicated ports and is one of the three new models sporting the next-gen ChargeShield 2.0 for 62 forms of protection while charging – especially during storms, outages, and so on.
There are four ways to recharge the battery with this unit, with the quickest way being plugged into a wall outlet to regain 80% of the battery in about 66+ minutes, though if you need a full battery for last-minute plans and unexpected needs (say, an incoming storm), you can reach that with its supercharge features in 102+ minutes. There’s also the option to plug it directly into your car’s auxiliary port for a full battery in 24 hours, or you can utilize its maximum 400W of solar input to recharge the battery in 5.5 hours. One more thing to note here is its silent charging mode for when you’ve plugged it in for nighttime use or recharging, as it keeps under 30dB so you or anyone else trying to rest won’t be disturbed.
Direct Jackery Black Friday power station deals:
Direct Jackery Black Friday solar generator deals:
Amazon has taken up to $751 off a huge lineup of Husqvarna lawncare equipment from $95
Amazon is offering some early Black Friday savings on the Husqvarna Hedge Master 320iHD60 Cordless Electric Hedge Trimmer for $249 shipped, as well as several other tools and equipment from the brand. You’re looking at a 22% markdown here off its usual $320 price tag, discounts over 2024 having been spaced out – the biggest of which came from October’s Prime Day event where it hit a $212 low. Today’s deal cuts a solid $71 off the going rate, giving you a great opportunity to score this higher-end tool among some of its lowest prices – just $37 above the all-time lowest we’ve seen.
Husqvarna’s Hedge Master 320iHD60 comes powered by a 40V battery that can be interchanged with the brand’s other handheld tools that you already have, with a high-torque brushless motor that provides “increased efficiency, increased reliability, reduced noise and longer product life.” It gives you a 24-inch reach that supports your own comfort with tri-handle grips for heavy-duty jobs and/or longer periods of use. Don’t worry about the blades jamming up here either, as its conveniently been given an un-jam button that opens the blades up for easy clearing.
More Husqvarna cordless tool discounts:
Husqvarna Combi Switch/attachment discounts:
Husqvarna robot mower discounts:
Husqvarna gas-powered tool discounts:
Save $400 while enjoying smoky BBQ goodness with GE’s smart indoor smoker at $599
Over at Amazon we just spotted the GE Profile Smart Indoor Smoker for $599 shipped, after clipping the on-page $98.99 off coupon. Normally fetching $999 at full price since releasing at the start of 2024, most of the discounts we’ve seen have cut the price down between $719 and $799, after the very first discount lowered costs to $699. We did see a short-lived fall to the $550 low back during July’s Prime Day event, but it’s kept above $700 in the time since (even being skipped over during October’s Prime Day sales) – until today. Now, you can score this “first-of-its-kind” kitchen upgrade with a $400 markdown, which puts it down at the second-lowest price we have tracked – just $49 above the all-time low from July.
Ideal for BBQ lovers everywhere, especially those who may not have the yard space for a larger or “more proper” smoking setup, GE has provided an innovative kitchen countertop alternative here that you don’t have to worry about setting off smoke detectors. This is due to the Active Smoke Filtration system that turns wood smoke into warm air that gets channeled through the unit and into your favorite meats or veggies. There are two separate heat sources contained within, one for burning pellets and the other for cooking your food – and it comes with six preset options for brisket, pork ribs, pork butt, chicken wings, chicken breast, and salmon, as well as a warming function to keep things from going too cold too early, as well as other customizable settings.
Speaking just on its smoking capabilities, it has five adjustable controls ranging from infusing mild hints of flavor all the way to full-on rich and robust smoky satisfaction that can be tasted through your sense of smell alone. With the SmartHQ app, you’ll have total remote smart controls so you can manage loner-timed cooking periods, even when you’re away from home, with it even allowing for hands-free voice controls via Alexa or Google Assistant.
The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.
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