Li Auto has officially launched the updated Li L8 extended-range SUV in China, introducing significant design and technology changes aimed at strengthening the model’s position in the competitive premium family SUV segment.
The new Li L8 is available in two variants, the Ultra and Livis, with official starting prices of RMB 369,800 ($54,590) and RMB 429,800, respectively. The company is also offering limited-time launch pricing that reduces the starting prices to RMB 359,800 and RMB 419,800.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin later this week.
Shift to Five-Seat Configuration
One of the most notable changes in the updated Li L8 is the transition from a six-seat layout to a five-seat design.
The move differentiates the model from the larger Li L9, which continues to feature a six-seat configuration.
The Li L8 now measures 5,135 mm in length, 2,000 mm in width and 1,800 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,045 mm, making it slightly larger than its predecessor.
Li Auto said the model comes standard with four zero-gravity seats. Rear passengers can recline their seats up to 55 degrees and benefit from integrated leg rests designed to improve long-distance comfort.
Third-Generation Extended-Range System
The updated SUV is powered by Li Auto’s third-generation 5C extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) system.
The powertrain combines the company’s self-developed third-generation 1.5-liter turbocharged range extender with dual electric motors.
The front motor produces 145 kW while the rear motor generates 275 kW, delivering a combined output of 420 kW.
Li Auto said the vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds.
Battery and Range
All variants are equipped with a 72.7-kWh ternary lithium battery pack.
The company claims a CLTC-rated battery-electric driving range of 430 kilometers and a combined driving range of up to 1,670 kilometers when the battery is fully charged and the fuel tank is full.
Driver-Assistance Technology
The Ultra variant is equipped with a single in-house developed Mach M100 computing chip delivering 1,280 TOPS of processing performance, along with a Hesai ATL-P LiDAR sensor.
The higher-spec Livis variant features two Mach M100 chips with combined computing power of 2,560 TOPS. In addition to the front-facing LiDAR, it incorporates three solid-state variable-focus LiDAR sensors.
Both versions include advanced driver-assistance capabilities designed to support highway and urban driving scenarios.
Chassis Upgrades
The Ultra variant comes standard with dual-chamber air suspension, steer-by-wire technology and rear-wheel steering, enabling a turning radius of 5.1 meters.
The Livis version adds an 800-volt active suspension system and brake-by-wire electro-mechanical braking technology, with Li Auto claiming chassis response times of less than 100 milliseconds.
Model Refresh
The launch comes as sales of the previous Li L8 slowed significantly ahead of the update.
Li Auto delivered 421 units of the model in May, a decline from the same period a year earlier, as potential buyers awaited the arrival of the refreshed version.
The updated Li L8 forms part of Li Auto’s broader effort to enhance its product lineup through improved comfort, electrification technologies and intelligent driving features as competition intensifies in China’s new energy vehicle market.