Streamlined six-seater boasts 5C fast charging, VLM ADAS system, and 400kW of power, with one version available starting from RMB 339,800.
(Article edited August 8th to adjust with new price and variant set up).
Li Auto has officially launched its i8 electric SUV in China, a streamlined three-row, six-seater model that becomes the brand’s second fully electric model after the Li MEGA.
Initial prices for the i8 started at RMB 321,800 (£34,900 / $44,830), but shortly after launch the line-up as streamlined to a single variant with prices now RMB 339,800 (£35,200 / $47,300) with the Pro variant in particular not offering Li Auto’s trademark refrigerator and rear-seat screens.
The new models boasts dual-chamber air suspension, a 400kW, dual-motor drivetrain, and up to 720 km CLTC range, positioning it as a premium competitor in China’s crowded EV market.
Deliveries are set to begin on August 20, with those placing pre-orders before then entitled to a RMB 10,000 (£1,085 / $1,400) discount for early buyers.
The i8 was originally slated for release in 2024, but its debut was postponed due to sluggish sales of Li Auto’s first BEV, the MEGA MPV, and concerns from Li Auto’s target customer base around highway charging on long journey.
The company first revealed the i8 in February 2025, applied for a sales license in April, and opened pre-sales in mid-July before its official launch on 29 July.
The delay allowed Li Auto to refine the i8’s positioning, ensuring it avoids the challenges faced by the MEGA.
The i8 enters a competitive segment dominated by electrified rivals like the Lynk & Co 900 and Denza N9, and now joined by the fully electric Onvo L90 which starts at a RMB 279,900 (£30,300 / $38,100) when bought with the battery.
CEO Li Xiang stated the i8’s exterior was inspired by yachts, featuring a short bonnet, integrated headlights, and an LED strip beneath the windshield.
The design includes flush door handles, blackened pillars, and a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor, while the rear resembles Li Auto’s L-series EREVs with a full-width taillight.
Debate has surrounded its MPV-like silhouette, but the company insists it is an SUV blending MPV, off-roader, and sedan elements.
To demonstrate its off-road capability, Li Auto released footage of the i8 climbing a 31-degree slope, challenging perceptions of its off-road prowess.
The i8 measures 5,085 mm long, 1,960 mm wide, 1,740 mm tall, and has a 3,050 mm wheelbase, making it smaller in every dimensions than the Onvo L90.
Its 0.218 Cd drag coefficient beats both the Model X (0.240 Cd) and Model Y (0.220 Cd), improving efficiency and reducing cabin noise.
The chassis features dual-chamber air suspension with 65 mm of adjustability for a max ground clearance of 195 mm.
Double-wishbone front and five-link rear suspension, combined with aluminium arms and hydraulic bushings, should help offer Li Auto’s signature silky smooth ride quality.
Li Auto conducted rigorous safety tests on the i8 to demonstrate the car’s 49,500 Nm/degree torsional rigidity and nine airbags, with the most extreme video showing a 100kph collision with an 8-tonne truck that has caused some controversy.
Another test showcased immersion of the battery underwater for ten days, being frozen at -40C for 24 hours, and dropped from a 10-metre height, with neither event causing battery failure or fire.
The roof-mounted LiDAR aids Li Auto’s advanced driver-assistance systems which is capable of both highway and urban autonomous driving and autonomous emergency steering (AES).
It uses the Vision-Language-Action (VLA) AI model to process the situation around the car, enabling voice-controlled functions like automatic parking and route retracing.
The 2+2+2 cabin offers 3,514 mm of interior length, 91 mm more than a Mercedes-Benz GLS, with good space across all three rows.
Second-row captain’s chairs recline to 145 degrees with zero-gravity mode, while the third row provides 875 mm of legroom, surpassing the Li L9’s 799mm by almost 8cm.
Amenities include vented wireless charging pads, a 21.4-inch ceiling screen for the rear seats on the Ultra trim, twin 15.7-inch screens in the front, 20- or 22-speakers, and a built-in fridge.
Front and second row seats get heating, ventilation, and 10-point massage functions, while the third-row gets heating.
The dual-motor 4WD system produces 400 kW (536 hp) and 660 Nm, with a 150kW motor on the front axle and a 250kW motor on the rear, good for a 0-100kph sprint of just 4.5 seconds, or 5 seconds at 20% battery.
The silicon carbide (SiC) motors operate at just 30 dB, quieter than a refrigerator, while energy consumption ranges from 14.6–14.8 kWh/100 km.
The 90.1 kWh battery on the Pro trim delivers 670 km CLTC range, while the 97.8 kWh pack on the Max and Ultra variants extends this to 720 km.
In real-world tests by Autohome, the i8 achieved 668.4 km of range during city driving (92.8% of CLTC) and 417.4 km at 120 km/h (58% of CLTC), outperforming the Tesla Model Y’s 407.4 km at the same speed.
Buyers will have access to Li Auto’s 3,000 charging stations boasting a cumulative 16,000 piles, with a portion of those piles dedicated to supporting the i8’s 5C ultra-fast charging, which can add 500 km in 10 minutes.
