Spy photos of the upcoming Li Auto i8 electric SUV have surfaced online, offering a detailed look at its interior and confirming its positioning as a large, six-seat family-oriented vehicle. The EV is set to make its official debut on July 29th.
The Li Auto i8 is poised to redefine the brand’s electric vehicle lineup, boasting standard features such as 5C ternary lithium batteries, intelligent dual-motor all-wheel drive, and an advanced LiDAR system. It will also be the first to integrate Li Auto’s MindVLA-assisted driving architecture.
The i8’s interior maintains Li Auto’s signature layout. A new circular ambient light strip adorns the top of the centre console, complementing optimised air vent designs. The familiar driver and passenger display screens remain, with the traditional instrument cluster replaced by a steering wheel-mounted screen and a head-up display.
The central tunnel offers a wireless charging pad and generous storage compartments. The second row features two independent, power-adjustable captain’s chairs, each equipped with a fold-out tray table. A small screen is positioned in the centre of the second row, while a larger rear entertainment display and roof-mounted air vents cater to rear passengers. The i8 adopts a 2+2+2 six-seat configuration, and the trunk promises substantial storage depth.
Official images further reveal a departure from previous L-series and MEGA models with the i8’s white steering wheel, which perfectly complements the predominantly light-colored interior. The driver’s seat backrest and cushion side bolsters appear longer and more pronounced than before, accented by dark stitching.
The Li Auto i8 will be powered by the MindVLA-assisted driving architecture. This system incorporates a new, more compact Hesai ATX LiDAR unit, capable of detecting objects up to 300 meters away with a resolution of up to 256 lines. This LiDAR is expected to be paired with Nvidia’s Drive AGX Thor-U intelligent driving chip, which boasts a single-chip computing power of 700 TOPS. MindVLA itself is described as a vision-language-action large model, an intelligent agent capable of communicating with users and understanding their intentions, effectively acting as a robotic driver.
The i8 comes standard with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. The front motor delivers a maximum power of 150 kW, while the rear motor provides 250 kW, for a combined output of 400 kW (536 hp). The i8 will debut with Li Auto’s self-developed silicon carbide drive motors and 5C ternary lithium batteries. Two battery pack options will be available: 90.052 kWh and 97.842 kWh, offering estimated cruising ranges of 670 km and 720 km, respectively.
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