Replacement for popular SUV brings BEV drivetrain alongside EREV and adds Huawei’s ADS 4 driver assistance system.
AITO, the first brand of Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance, HIMA, has opened pre-sales for the all-new M7 at the Chengdu Auto Show.
The updated SUV, one of the top 20 best-selling electrified vehicles globally in 2024, is a completely new model that brings the somewhat ageing model into line with the brand’s newer M8 and M9 models.
For the first time it will get a fully electric drivetrain alongside the extended range electric (EREV) drivetrain that AITO has become synonymous with, and will also get Huawei’s latest ADS 4 intelligent driving system.
A key technological introduction is the industry’s first in-cabin laser vision solution, named Limera, which brings the LiDAR unit into the unit behind the rearview mirror, removing the requirement for a roof-mounted lidar that some find aesthetically displeasing, and removing the need to clean it.
The new AITO M7 presents a refreshed front end that removes the faux-grille panel the previous M7 utilised, instead opting for a closed face with the familiar almond-shaped daytime running lights of other AITO models.
Unlike other AITOs, the M7’s turquoise ADAS lights are separate smaller units between the headlamps, while at the bottom there’s an active grille for adjusting aero and cooling a required.
The M7 looks to have gained visual weight, a staple of the AITO models, compared to the previous edition which had a taller and slimmer look, and it retains the liberal chrome elements throughout.
At the rear, the M7 loses the clamshell bootlid and gains a slimmer, more generic full-width daytime running light across the back, along with twin ADAS lights and a large spoiler.
Semi-concealed door handles replace the former pop-out units, a style of handle currently being investigated for safety in China, while wheel sizes go up to 21-inches.
It has also grown in every dimension over its predecessor, by as much as 6cm in length to 5,080mm long, 5.5cm in width to 1,999mm, 0.5cm in height to 1,780mm, and by a full 21cm in the wheelbase to 3,030mm, highlighting the restrictions the old platform placed on packaging.
The interior has been comprehensively redesigned with a focus on digitalisation and comfort, with the dashboard now featuring a 16.1-inch central touchscreen, and two smaller screens ahead of the driver and front passenger embedded into a black panel.
There’s also a head-up display for the driver, as well zero-gravity front seats for both front occupants, wooden elements on the doors and centre console, wireless chargers where there was formerly a drive selector, and cupholders.
In the rear, the M7 now gets a large fold-down rear screen, and a smaller screen on the centre console for ventilation and seat controls, as well as for controlling the rear heating and cooling drawer.
We don’t yet have details on the audio system though with at least 3 units in each door, it’s likely to have around 20-speakers, of course from Huawei.
One question surrounds the number of seats. Images so far show a rear bench suggesting a five-seater, but the previous M7 had a six-seater variant so it’s possible AITO have replaced the former M7 with the M8 and the M7 is now moving into two-row territory to match the Li Auto L7.
The M7 will be available with two powertrain types, the familiar EREV system, and an all-new BEV variant.
The EREV uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine generating 118 kW that serves only as a generator for either a 37 kWh or 53 kWh battery, unlocking a total claimed CLTC range of over 1,600 km, and a likely 250km+ electric-only range though this hasn’t yet been disclosed.
The all-electric BEV model is equipped with a 100 kWh battery, offering a CLTC-rated range exceeding 700 km.
Power outputs for the electric motors range from 227 kW (304 hp) for the entry-level model to 392 kW (526 hp) for the all-wheel-drive version.
A significant update is the incorporation of Huawei’s ADS 4 intelligent driving system which comes with the option of the Limera (LiDAR + camera) in-cabin laser vision solution, which integrates LiDAR and a camera behind the rearview mirror inside the windshield.
Huawei states this placement offers ‘lifetime zero cleaning’ by protecting the sensor from external contaminants and addresses aesthetic concerns associated with roof-mounted units.
Primarily deployed in lower-spec models, this system is designed to enhance obstacle detection, particularly in low-light conditions, where it can identify objects as small as 30cm and enable automatic emergency braking at speeds up to 100 km/h.
Higher-specification trims will continue to utilise a more powerful 192-line external LiDAR system for superior performance.
Prices for the new M7 are yet to be announced, but the company claimed over 100,000 pre-orders within one hour of pre-sales opening.
