Xpeng has updated its Tesla Model Y rival, the G6 crossover, with a round of styling tweaks and new battery technology that the firm claims will make it the fastest-charging EV in its class.
The Chinese EV maker’s mid-sized electric SUV was only revealed two years ago and has been on sale in the UK for just a few months, but it has already received a facelift to bring it up to date with its range-mates and rivals.
Chief among the updates is a huge hike in maximum charging speed, from 280kW to 451kW. That’s quick enough, Xpeng says, to give a 10-80% charge in just 12 minutes – although public chargers in the UK currently top out at around 350kW.
Xpeng has not revealed how long the battery can sustain those peak charging speeds.
Full specifications remain to be confirmed, but the new G6 claims a maximum range of 326 miles from the biggest-battery variant, suggesting a decrease in outright capacity over the previous Long Range car, which claimed 354 miles between charges.
The changes under the floor come alongside a visual refresh, which brings a new full-width front light bar – following in the footsteps of its recently restyled Tesla rival – along with colour-coded wheel arches, a sleeker rear diffuser and a subtle rear spoiler.
Updates inside include new wood-grain dashboard trim and various material quality improvements, and there is now the option of a digital rear-view mirror on higher-spec cars.
Orders are now open in Europe for the updated G6 ahead of deliveries starting at the end of summer, but the firm’s UK importer International Motors has yet to confirm when it will land here – although a public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed suggests it is not far away.
The G6’s upgrades are matched by the firm’s flagship G9 SUV – although charging for that model is boosted to an even higher peak speed of 530kW. Already on sale in Europe, the Audi Q6 E-tron rival is expected to launch in the UK in the coming months.
