XPENG Launches Multi-Talented P7+ in Europe: Hands-On Review

Support CleanTechnica’s work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe.

XPENG launched the new P7+ in Europe earlier today. Last November, XPENG gave me the privilege to see a preview of the car now being launched, which I can now share. This is a next-generation model in China, with the 100,000^th P7+ rolling off the line this week. However, it is a new model for Europe. Multiple refinements and adjustments have been made throughout the car to adapt to the diverse user needs in both markets. Not only is the new model coming to Europe, but it also launches European production, with the first vehicle rolling off the line earlier this week in Austria.

The P7+ is a large fastback or “luxury liftback” at 5071 mm long. While this is a little large for some European roads, it doesn’t look or feel bulky, considering its interior capacity. Compared to the sporty P7, the P7+ moves the windshield forward and elevates the roof to end in a floating rear section with a clean detachment point. This profile improves aerodynamic performance with a 0.211 Cd.

XPENG mentioned that they had a French designer, and I can see some hints of classic Citroen inspiration in the profile. The overall design improves interior space, with 573 l of trunk space expanding to 1904 l with the rear seats down. The amount of cargo it can carry is impressive, demonstrated with a stack of suitcases at the event. However, while they may not get credit for the added height in official measurements (automakers other than Tesla measure up to the window line), the sloping hatch does limit the ability to carry tall cargo onboard, like furniture, compared to a more squared off estate profile. However, when more cargo is needed, an electric tow hitch can be deployed, with a 1.5 T capacity, which should be especially appealing to many buyers in Europe.

The new P7+ design is more evolutionary than revolutionary compared to the version it replaces. The overall appearance is sharper and more refined. The front LED lighting signature looks slim, crisp, and integrated. At the rear, the horizontal light bar moved from the top of the taillights to the bottom, with a center mounted brake light added a little higher up, which many of us thought was likely to meet European regulations. The sleek frameless side mirrors also look sharp, streamlining the design while still offering a good view to the rear of the car. Speaking of seeing out of the car, the front and side visibility is excellent. The ability to see the top of the front fenders makes it easy to discern where the corners of the vehicle are. However, the high tail does restrict visibility somewhat, making the digital rearview mirror very useful.

The 15.6” center information screen is crisp and responsive. However, the front driver display has shrunk vertically to 8.8” and has been simplified. This may seem counterintuitive, but the smaller display was clearly visible regardless of where the oval steering wheel was positioned, allowing a wide range of heights and driving positions to use it comfortably. Meanwhile, much of the additional information moved to the 29” W-HUD, which is much sharper than it appears in my video. In addition, rear passengers also get an 8” control screen.

Overall, seating was comfortable and an upgrade over the previous model, which was already a nice place to be. Fit and finish seemed excellent and well thought out, with tight seams and soft touch materials used throughout the cabin. Both rows come with heating, ventilation, massage, and recline. The rear seat in the new version offered more thigh support for people with longer legs, adding comfort to the plentiful knee room, and seemed to squeeze in a little more headroom. The rear passenger side also gets a folding tray table, perfect for an executive to do work or a child to hold a snack.

The ADAS system uses 11 cameras, 3 mm-wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors to feed 3 Orin chips with 2250 TOPS of computing power. While XPENG tended to emphasize processing power over horsepower, power ranges from 180 kW (241 hp) in the base RWD version up to 370 kW (496 hp) for the AWD. 0–100 km/h takes as little as 4.3s, which is more than adequate. But the speed of charging was perhaps even more impressive, taking the 800V battery from 10 to 80 percent in 12 minutes. That battery was also subjected to 37 tests to exceed China strict new battery safety standards. Range is up to 530 km under WLTP, which tends to be a little less optimistic than the CLTC standard used by many competitors.

Driving the P7+ and Letting It Drive Me

We had an opportunity to drive a P7+ with the new NGP intelligent driving system on public roads on China. The specific model we drove was the previous generation body and interior, so it was not the same version heading to Europe. But it gave a good impression of how the self-driving system performs in the complex traffic of China. People and scooters frequently enter the road from unexpected places and cars often merge through multiple lanes without signaling. The system typically saw them before I did and provided extra room, even when it needed to stay within the lane. In addition, several dump trucks were on the road, and the system shifted the vehicle within the lane to provide extra clearance.

My favorite part of the system was the co-driving mode. This maintains much of the self-driving functionality but lets the driver control the steering to take a desired path. In my case, I preferred to hug a wide right median and have more clearance from a guardrail on the left when going through a roundabout. The system let me take my desired path without disengaging completely. Only when touching the brake does the system completely disengage. Due to regulations in China, you still need to have your hands on the wheel, so I used the co-driving functionality several times even though it wasn’t absolutely needed.

The overall system uses an AI process that XPENG refers to as VLA 2.0, or the second generation of Vision Language Action.  A typical AI system will convert everything into long-language, like trying to give someone written instructions on every muscle to move to do a basic task. XPENG’s system tends to learn more like how somebody learns a sport: it watches real-world driving, infers the action without getting too much into the detailed language description of it, then performs the action. Then, like a coach, long-language makes corrections and adds rules. In practice, it performs smoothly and seems to learn quickly.

XPENG’s NGP system seemed more safety and comfort oriented than Tesla FSD. When driving, it followed speed limits. Acceleration and braking were well controlled and not overly aggressive. It thought ahead to merge lanes with plenty of time before making turns. In execution, it tended to put the human behind the steering wheel (can’t really call them a driver anymore) at ease.

When I took over to drive myself, the acceleration was more than adequate, but smooth. The steering was a little light, in line with Chinese preference, but it didn’t feel too detached. While the ride is also more comfort-oriented, the car body seemed to stay well controlled. However, the car that I drove was the previous generation, and the new model will likely see many adjustments to fit European tastes. Likewise, XPENG’s XNGP system will also learn from drivers in Europe and adapt to the specific road conditions on the continent.

A Multi-Talented EV

Many vehicles compromise heavily in one area or the other. However, XPENG set out to make a unique, no-compromise vehicle, and they have succeeded in many ways. The technology onboard is excellent. While it may not have the space of an MPV, the amount of room for people and cargo is impressive compared to a similarly sized sedan. It also may not be setting lap records, but the performance and handling are more than most will ever need. It combines comfort, luxury, and practicality, which could work equally well for family road trips or executive transportation. It is a form factor that I think many buyers in Europe will find interesting. Many Americans might as well, if given the opportunity. With the launch of European production and the attention to detail in listening to customers, this could be not just the start of a new generation vehicle, but also the start of a new phase of global expansion for XPENG.