GAC Aion LX Plus Has A 626-Mile Range According To China’s Test Cycle

Guangzhou-based GAC Group has unveiled their latest production vehicle under the Aion brand. It’s called the LX Plus and boasts an impressive 1,008 km (626-mile) range according to the China light-duty vehicle test cycle (CLTC). The fully electric SUV that debuted at the 2021 Guangzhou Auto Show is an improved version of the GAC Aion LX that was unveiled in 2019, joining the smaller Aion V Plus SUV and the Aion S Plus sedan in the automaker’s fully electric range.

While CLTC is a  different standard compared to Europe’s WLTP or US’s EPA, a range above 1,000 km is quite an achievement, especially for an SUV. In the case of the Aion LX Plus, it was achieved thanks to a huge battery pack with a capacity of 144.4 kWh in the flagship variant. The battery uses GAC’s technology with elastic sheets, making it 20 percent smaller and 14 percent lighter than a conventional one, allowing an energy density of 205Wh/kg.

The model comes fitted with dual electric motors producing a combined 725 hp (540 kW / 734 PS) transmitted to all four wheels through a two-speed gearbox. As a result, the Aion LX Plus accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 2.9 seconds, which is slower than the Tesla Model X Plaid but still blistering fast for a five-door SUV. Aion will also offer lesser variants of the LX Plus with smaller battery capacity and less powerful e-motors.

See Also: 2022 Mitsubishi Airtrek Debuts As A Chinese-Market Fully Electric SUV

In terms of design, the Aion LX Plus is similar to the outgoing LX. The redesigned face has a cleaner design thanks to the grille-less look and the more sculpted bumper featuring a single intake and a pronounced splitter. The LED headlights are retained, while the profile and the sporty rear end look identical.

The updated SUV is measuring 4,835 mm (190.4 inches) long, 1,935 mm (76.2 inches) wide, and 1,685 mm (66.3 inches) long, with a wheelbase of 2,920 mm (114.9 inches).

Another important upgrade is the three lidars sourced from RoboSense, bringing improved self-driving capabilities. Those are visible from the exterior, with one mounted on the roof and two more placed on the front fenders, covering a 300° angle around the vehicle.

Inside, the redesigned dashboard is featuring a larger free-standing 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen with updated hardware in the form of the 8-core Qualcomm 8155 processor and a new software called ADiGO 4.0. The rest of the cabin spots familiar looks while equipment includes a panoramic sunroof, a 10-speaker audio system from Alpine, and white-colored Nappa leather upholstery.

GAC didn’t reveal pricing for the Aion LX Plus, but it is expected to be more expensive than its predecessor, which costs between ¥229,600 ($35,957) and ¥349,600 ($54,750).