Li Auto Inc., one of the leading newcomers in China’s new energy vehicle market, today revealed Mega, its high-tech flagship family MPV called Mega at the Auto Guangzhou 2023 show. It will be officially launched in December, with models available in Li Auto retail stores starting in January and delivery commencing in late February. The MPV was immediately open for reservations with a deposit of RMB 5000 and a retail price expected below RMB600,000 (about $84,000).

The preview highlighted how Li Auto (and other new Chinese OEMs, for that matter) and its suppliers have taken EV performance to new levels in design, battery-electric technology, safety, interior space, and driving comfort—and redefined MPVs for Chinese extended families.

Mega updates the traditional MPV with cleaner, simplified, more modern lines. The company says the aerodynamics-based design balances ample cabin space and a high-capacity battery with a low drag coefficient for the “future avant-garde” body featuring no “unnecessary decorations.”

The “waterdrop” front with Halo forward lighting features a rounded profile that continues in a smooth arc from the body’s front to rear to minimize airflow separation. This is facilitated by a tapered rear profile with the integration of the roof and D-pillars in an “aero blade.”

The company says that the Mega shatters the record for production MPVs (based on mass-produced-vehicle public information) with its 0.215 drag coefficient measured at the CAERI aerodynamic wind tunnel developed by SBI/WBI. (It says that a reduction of 0.01 in the drag coefficient increases the CLTC range by 7 km.) The low drag coefficient, coupled with an advanced high-voltage battery-electric platform and vehicle integration efficiency, helped to achieve a low CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) grid-end energy consumption of 15.9 kW·h/100 km based on the company’s test results.

To meet the travel needs of Chinese extended families, Li Auto says that the Mega employs flagship-level body dimensions to create a “veritable mobile luxury apartment,” with the vehicle measuring 5250 mm (206 in) long, 1965 mm (77 in) wide, and 1850 mm (73 in) tall on a 3300 mm (130 in) wheelbase. Inside, the MPV provides a 3791-mm (149.3-in) effective length from the accelerator pedal to the tailgate. The company says that interior space surpasses that of the BMW 7 Series long-wheelbase edition in the second row and the BMW 5 Series long-wheelbase edition in the third row.

When the MPV is fully occupied, the trunk depth (from third-row seat to tailgate) is still up to 680 mm (26.8 in), which the company says is three times that of traditional luxury MPVs. With the third-row seats folded, the maximum trunk depth expands to 1066 mm (42.0 in), transforming the trunk into a “large warehouse” for a family. Adding to the sense of space is a whole-vehicle glass area totaling 8.26 m² (89 ft²), including second-row windows of nearly 1 m² (10.7 ft²) and third-row windows of more than 1 m (3.3 ft) in length, to provide “unobstructed” views for every occupant.

With cell-to-pack Qilin 5C battery technology from leading Chinese battery innovator CATL, the Mega delivers a range addition capability of 500 km (310 mi) with a 12-min charge. The near 700-A peak charging current of the battery can reach 5 times the cell capacity, which Li Auto says can enable more than 520-kW peak charging power and maintain higher supercharging power for an extended period—bringing energy replenishment efficiency comparable to refueling. The range data are based on CLTC test results, and the DC charging time is based on the results of lab testing. In rigorous thermal runaway safety standard testing, the Qilin 5C battery failure rate is said to reach ppb (parts per billion) levels, significantly exceeding the industry average ppm (parts per million) range.

The Mega’s dual-motor 4WD electric propulsion system produces 400 kW and 542 N·m (400 lb·ft) for 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 5.5 s, but maybe more importantly guarantees robust performance when climbing uphill with a full load. The MPV comes standard with Li Auto’s Magic Carpet Air Suspension 3.0, having a double-wishbone front suspension, H-arm multi-link rear suspension, and continuous damping control.

The Mega comes standard with Li Auto’s Fortress Protection System that enables G ratings in the latest and most stringent C-IASI (China-Insurance Automotive Safety Index) testing standard to be implemented in 2024. In addition, the MPV was developed and crash tested at speeds of 88 km/h () and an overlap angle of 70%, with an 800-mm (31.5-in) third-row rear buffer depth, which is far more stringent than the requirements of Chinese national standards. The performance is enabled by a high-rigidity frame structure and a vacuum high-pressure integrated die-cast floor. The overall body has a torsional stiffness of 44,000 N·m (32,450 lb·ft)/deg, which the company says surpasses by threefold that of traditional million-yuan luxury MPVs.