Xiaomi’s first extended range EVs move away from performance focus in favour of family friendly cabin flexibility.
Xiaomi has launched its new Skynomad range of extended range EVs in China, moving into the large SUV space with a clever flat floor platform and class-leading electric-only range.
The first two models, named N70 and N90, mark a departure from Xiaomi’s previous fully electric range which focused on emotional design and driving dynamics, the new models instead targeting large families with a highly flexible cabin offering.
Headline figures include an electric-only range of 505km on the two-row, five-seater N70, and a maximum combined range of 1,705km from a 76kWh NMC battery on the three-row N90 Max.
Both cars sit on Xiaomi’s new Super Kunpeng platform, an extended range platform that utilises clever suspension and motor packaging to offer a fully flat cabin floor from front to back.
Smart Flexible Cabin
Despite offering a shorter wheelbase than key rivals like the AITO M9 and Li Auto L9, the larger N90 boasts a completely flat cabin area of 4.4m2, 0.2m2 more than the closest rival, courtesy of the Kunpeng platform that, like the Zeekr MIX, separates the springs and dampers on the rear axle to reduce intrusion from the wheel arch.
This allows a 20cm wider rear bench than both the L9 and M9, and creates a more square cabin space that enables the use of either five, in the N70, or six rails, upon which the second and third row seats, and movable centre console, can be mounted and moved electrically.
This offers a wide range of flexible interior layouts, which Xiaomi call scenarios, including options where the two front seats revolve 180-degrees to face backwards and create a four or five-seat face-to-face layout. Crucially, both can rotate without the doors needing to be opened.
The flexible space also enables the N90 to offer four zero-gravity seats, space for seven adults to sit in comfort with around 89cm of legroom in the third row, and in the case of the N70 allows the rear bench to move entirely rearwards between the C- and D-pillars, opening up more than a metre of legroom.
The smaller N70 ironically gets the larger storage area, with 1,203-litres of boot space as standard (measured to the roof), and up to 2,425-litres with the second row seats folded and moved forward. The larger N90 gets 577-litres as standard, and up to 1,861-litres with the seats moved forward.
Premium feel and features
Xiaomi has clearly taken inspiration from Li Auto interiors with the Skynomad range, boasting 95% coverage of the interior with soft-touch materials – a synthetic leather for the most part though the first two rows can be specified with Nappa leather.
Soft surfaces, diffuse ambient lighting, real wood on the dashboard, and metal grates on the speakers, offer a distinctly homely interior feel, while Mocha and Beige interior upholstery contribute to the premium and open feel.
Behind the steering wheel, an 8.8-inch driver’s display offers key functions while a 13.3-inch head-up display puts more information ahead of the driver. A single 16.1-inch screen running Xiaomi’s HyperOS powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip sits on the centre console.
A 21.4-inch screen drops down from the roof for rear passenger entertainment, while there’s also a 6.6-inch screen on the back of the centre console for operating various functions.
While the smaller N70 gets 14-speakers and 7.1.4 surround sound as standard, 25 speakers can be specified and are standard on the larger N90 boasting 4,890W of output.
A single wireless charger is offered on the centre console, which combines with 16 other charging options around the vehicle including Xiaomi’s powered mounting points on the dashboard, while there’s also a 9-litre drawer that cools to -6C and heats to 50C in the centre console, as well as twin panoramic windows with sunblinds, and manual window shades for the second and third rows.
There’s also a 220-volt socket in the boot for powering items, as well as 6.6kW vehicle-to-load capability from the external charge port.
Other family-friendly features include an electrically retractable step on the N90, heated, ventilated, and 16-point massaging seats in the front two rows, and heated seats in the third row.
Supporting the various scenarios, there are also a number of aftermarket accessories such as tables that sit in the cupholders, a table that mounts into the floor rails for more sturdy working, a tent set up, and blow-up mattresses and window shades for camping in the car.
Images have also shown a flagship version of the N90 with a built-in roof mounted sleeping set up, similar to that found on camper vans, but this may be officially announced at a later time.
Strong safety credentials
Xiaomi claims five-star safety testing for both models, a claim it backs up with numerous features, including up to 12 airbags on the N90 and nine airbags on the N70, as well as heavy use of their self-developed 2,200MPa high-strength steel on the roof and A-pillars and in the doors.
The cars also make use of a single-piece die cast panel running almost the entire length of the passenger cell on the N90, as well as extensive protection for the battery, which can sustain 500 joules of impact, more than three times the national standard.
Both models also make use of the new door handles that debuted on the new SU7, which are electrically operable but can be manually operated in the event of a failure, with at least two back-up power supplies to unlock the doors in the case of total electrical system failure.
Supporting the car’s ADAS system, which runs Xiaomi’s HAD system powered by an NVIDIA Thor-U chip with 700TOPS of processing power, are a front LiDAR unit, 4D millimetre wave radar, numerous cameras and ultrasonic sensors, and in the case of the N90, a solid-state LiDAR at the rear to support with rear obstacles in the car’s nearby proximity.
Super Kunpeng Platform
Xiaomi’s new Super Kunpeng platform makes use of an extended range drivetrain from Dongan, the same supplier as many other Chinese extended range EVs, but Xiaomi has worked to create additional efficiencies on the range extender engine to generate its impressive results.
The company claims the improvements mean the N70 Max will only use 6.1-litres of fuel per 100km when the battery is depleted, with the larger N90 achieving a figure of just 6.26-litres per 100km.
The engine can produce 3.66kWh of energy per litre of fuel used, which combined with a 60-litre fuel tank on the N90 means a combined range of 1,705km, and 1,431km on the smaller N70.
The battery options are a 52kWh LFP battery in the upcoming N70 Pro, and a 76kWh NMC battery from CALB available in the N70 Max and N90 Max, and while charging speed hasn’t been confirmed, Xiaomi claims a 20-80% charge time of around 20 minutes.
The platform uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 112kW of power, which charges the battery only. This then distributes power to the front and rear electric motors, offering 210kW and 100kW of power respectively, with a combined 415hp and 540Nm of torque.
On the N70, this enables a 0-100kph sprint of 5.5 seconds, with the N90 taking slightly longer at 5.9 seconds.
Air suspension comes as standard, offering up to 50mm of height adjustability, while the N70 has a turning radius of around 5.7-metres, with the N90 coming in at 5.9-metres.
The N90 can wade up to 750mm.
More docile appearance
The Skynomad series takes on a distinctly less sensual appearance than the SU7 and YU7, opting for a more square and upright profile with rounded edges .
Both models get Xiaomi’s plus-shaped daytime running lights at the front, slightly altered to look more like a dragonfly, while the panel that runs between the headlights is changeable and comes in different colours.
At the rear, Xiaomi’s iconic halo light takes on a more square appearance, similar to that on the Zeekr 9X and Polestar 2, and there’s Skynomad lettering across the bootlid.
The largest wheels appear to be 21-inches in size, with at least two designs available, and a number of colours are expected to be offered, including Valley Blue and Mountain Green as the special launch colours. A more muted palette is expected than the standard Xiaomi range.
Prices
Pre-sale prices for the Max versions of the Skynomad range were announced at the live tech event, with the flagship N90 starting at RMB 299,900, and the N70 starting at RMB 259,900, undercutting key premium rivals like the AITO M9 and Li Auto L9.
These prices will likely drop for the main launch, but refundable RMB 1,000 deposits are now being taken.
