The young Chinese company Li Auto ended 2023 triumphantly, having sold 376,030 cars (+182% compared to sales in 2022 ) and intends to sell at least 800,000 cars in 2024, for which the model range will be significantly expanded. One of the key new products is the junior plug-in hybrid crossover Li L6, which will hit the market in April.
The Li Auto company (aka Li Xiang) was founded in 2015 by Chinese media tycoon Li Xiang. It operates under the Li trademark, which stands for Leading Ideal and at the same time indicates the name of the founder. The Li Auto lineup currently consists of three crossovers of the same type — L7, L8 and L9, they differ from each other in size, price and equipment, and the design of all is almost identical. All three crossovers are range extender hybrids of the sequential type, in which the internal combustion engine has no mechanical connection with the wheels and is used as a generator to increase the electric range. The junior crossover Li L6, which today surfaced in the electronic database of the Chinese Ministry of Industry, will also receive the same power plant.
Li L6
Li L6 is the youngest in the range, but at the same time quite a large crossover: its overall length is 4925 mm, width is 1960 mm, height is 1735 mm, wheelbase is 2920 mm. For comparison, let’s say that the overall length of the Li L7 crossover, which is one step higher in the model hierarchy, is 5050 mm, width — 1995 mm, height — 1750 mm, wheelbase — 3005 mm. Prices for Li L7 in China start from 319,800 yuan (3.92 million rubles in translation at the current exchange rate), and Li L6 is expected to cost less than 300,000 yuan (3.67 million rubles) in the “base” and will become the most affordable model in the range.
Li L6 with and without lidar
The characteristics of the electric motors of the Li L6 crossover have not yet been disclosed, and the gasoline generator is the same as that of the older “brothers” — a 1.5-liter “turbo-four” with a power of 154 hp. If the Li Auto company uses lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt traction batteries on the L7, L8 and L9 crossovers, then the Li L6 will receive a cheaper lithium-iron-phosphate battery. Meanwhile, the equipment of the junior crossover will be quite rich, the top versions will receive a lidar above the windshield and, accordingly, the theoretical ability to drive in a completely unmanned mode (theoretical, because in China even level 3 autopilots according to the SAE classification are still not legalized, but at levels 1 and 2 the driver is required to keep an eye on the road at all times).
Options 20- and 21- inch wheels for Li L6
Last year, Li Auto introduced its first all-electric model, the Mega minivan on a new platform with 800-volt electrical architecture, which will hit the Chinese market in the coming months. In the second half of 2024, Li Auto will introduce three more electric vehicles — thus, by the end of the year there will already be eight models in the Li Auto range. Li Auto wants to become the largest player in the premium segment of the Chinese market, that is, to bypass Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Tesla — perhaps this goal will be achieved by the end of 2024.
Li L7 1/2 
Li L6 2/2
The Li Auto company is not officially represented in our country, but is well known thanks to gray dealers — Li hybrid crossovers are regularly found on the roads of large Russian cities. Li Auto still has no clear plans outside of China; now all its forces are concentrated on achieving dominance in the home market, then, perhaps, expansion into the global market will begin.
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