The Xpeng P7+ is an AI-defined vehicle coming to Europe

Xpeng Motors has brought the P7+ to Europe, and we ought to care because a) the Chinese carmaker claims it’s the world’s first AI-defined vehicle and b) there’s a promise to launch in the UK market at some point later this year or next.

So let’s look at it: first up, the tech. The all-electric P7+ features Level-Two partially autonomous driver assist features as standard, with no fees or subscriptions (though bear in mind, the SAE Levels aren’t used in the UK).

Xpeng’s regular remote updates keep the car fresh and secure, and the P7+ has an ‘AI Hawkeye Visual Solution’. That combines the use of sophisticated cameras at the front and rear, and millimetre-wave and ultrasonic radars. There’s no expensive LiDar or hi-def mapping as with other autonomous driving systems. Just a bunch of very fancy AI-powered data processing engines to assess and navigate the environment with extreme precision when driving.

Frankly, much of this sounds a lot like the features of start-up-spewed cars we’ve heard from before, so judgement is thusly reserved until it's driven.

And how does the P7+ shape up as an electric car when it’s not being a futuristic spaceship? It’s built on the same 800V platform as Xpeng’s G9 and G6, SUVs available in Europe but not the UK and without the fancy tech.

It’s an evolution of the original P7 that set out to compete with the Tesla Model 3 Long Range before the latter actually existed beyond China. That OG P7 promised us 436 miles of charge on one 80.9kWh battery, but the P7-plus has a 76.3kWh battery good for 441 miles. That supports ultra-fast charging, too.

Consumption is reckoned by the carmaker to be around 15.1kWh for every 62 miles (and that’s an official WLTP figure). For context, its long range Tesla rival uses only 12.5kWh for the same distance.

And yeesh, it’s a massive five-metre car with a three-metre long wheelbase, stats that tickle Ford Transit dimensions. It rolls around on 18in rims (or optional 20in ones) with a lot of glass overhead and around. That makes the high-tech cabin, bedecked in quality upholstery and super comfy seats, very light.

Xpeng doesn’t specify cost at present but says it “aims to capture a larger share of the €40,000 (£33,000) and above market”, which isn’t a horribly expensive price tag when you consider the tech under the skin of the thing.

It hasn't yet confirmed when it expects to launch the brand in the UK, giving the ambiguous answer of 'maybe later this year, or sometime next year'. But given the speed at which we're heading into the festive season, it's reasonable to think 2025 will be a more realistic ambition.