The question now is how long before the Xingyue L will be sporting a Proton badge?
Three months after Geely has pulled the covers off its new Xingyue L at the Shanghai International Auto Show back in April, the Chinese automaker has recently announced that its new flagship SUV is now ready to hit the market over in China. Though anyone wanting to buy one now will perhaps have to wait a while, as pre-orders for this third addition to the firm’s top-of-the-line ‘Star’ series now stands at nearly 30,000 units.
So what exactly has caused such a stir in popularity for this Xingyue L, and why is it dubbed the flagship model when the larger 7-seat Hao Yue exists in Geely’s lineup? Well it all has to do with this particular SUV supposedly serving as the spearhead for the Chinese automaker’s future endeavours, not just in terms of its design language (both inside and out) but also in the tech department too.
Kicking off with what lies under the skin of this flagship SUV first, the Xingyue L sits on the firm’s tried-and-true Compact Modular Architecture (CMA). The same platform that underpins the Volvo XC40, this 5-seat Geely crossover however is more dimensionally similar to that of the XC60 instead.
Speaking of the Volvos too, the chiselled silhouette of the Xingyue L does look more than a bit like its Scandinavian SUV counterparts. Geely however has nevertheless added its own touches based on its new ‘Symphony of Space and Time’ aesthetic, which are most prominently highlighted by its trick LED headlights and a full-width taillight cluster consisting of 176 individual dot-matrix LEDs, that can supposedly be made to create a ‘cosmic aurora’ effect.
Continuing on the cosmic theme meanwhile, the Xingyue L will be the first model in the Geely lineup to run its new Milky Way OS. An operating system that the Chinese automaker claims to support the seamless linkage between the four screens within the flagship SUV’s cabin: the two central infotainment screens, a fully-digital instrument cluster and a 25.6-inch AR-HUD.
This new OS though (and its four screens) is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the space age tech featured on the Xingyue L, that is because the advanced suite of sensors fitted onboard also makes available HWA Highway Assisted Driving and auto lane changing capabilities. Level 2 autonomous driving however is nothing compared to the Geely’s party piece of a ‘completely unmanned automated valet system’.
Made possible by a bevy of sensors — that includes 12 ultrasonic radars, 5 millimetre wave radars, 4 high-def surround view cameras, 1 monocular camera, 1 dashcam, and 1 interior camera — within this SUV, the 5G-enabled Xingyue L is able to drive independently, search for parking spots and park itself within a 200 m area. Even more impressively too, the reverse can also be accomplished by calling it to pick up the user within a 200-metre area.
Now getting back to more traditional tech toys within the Xingyue L, this flagship SUV nets a 10 speaker high-performance BOSE sound system and a customisable 72 colour atmospheric lighting scheme that changes according to the driving mode to complement its dual-tone suede interior. Engine harmonic noise reduction technology and double layered soundproofing has also been made standard on this Geely, just to add that little bit more luxury within the cabin while on the move.
On the subject of being on the move, motive power of the Xingyue L at launch comes courtesy of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with two states of tune. The first of which outputs 218 PS and 325 Nm of torque, that drives solely the front wheels through a Geely-developed seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.
The other flavour on the other hand develops slightly more power, at 238 PS and 380 Nm of torque. It also drives an extra set of wheels too, as it is paired to an Aisin eight-speed automatic gearbox and BorgWarner’s sixth-generation 4WD system with 50:50 front/rear torque distribution and a dedicated OFFROAD mode.
To those looking for something electrified however, the Xingyue L will only receive its hybrid powertrain come the end of this year. It is probably worth the wait though, as the Chinese automaker is promising that its Geely Hybrid System (GHS) 2.0 will deliver a ‘world-class thermal efficiency of 43.32% and fuel savings exceeding 40%’.
And touching on the topic of waiting, it is still officially unclear thus far as to whether or not this Xingyue L will be making its way over here bearing a Proton badge. Taking into account past precedents and faintly credible rumours however, it is fairly reasonable to expect this flagship Geely SUV to be sporting an X80 (or X90) emblem on its rump a couple of years down the line.
PRESS RELEASE: Geely Auto (Geely), the largest privately-owned Chinese brand, launched its newest CMA-based SUV on the Chinese market at an event in Hangzhou City. Named the Xingyue L in China, the high-end SUV is the most advanced SUV ever to be launched by Geely Auto. Pre-orders for the Xingyue L has already reached nearly 30,000 since being unveiled to the public earlier in the year. The launch of Xingyue L adds a third model to Geely’s flagship ‘Star’ series which also includes the Coupe SUV Xingyue S and class-leading sedan Preface.
Sitting on the Compact Modular Architecture, the Xingyue L is designed with strong proportions; a wide 1610mm wheel track and long 2845mm wheelbase, resulting in both strong presence and expansive interior. Viewing the Xingyue L from different angles present a bold yet serene, tough yet refined, classic yet trendy image.
The interior of the Xingyue is where a true symphony between Eastern and Western styling can be seen. Creating an interior that’s modernistic yet classically refined comes down to the details, including selective material choices and colours. Custom suede is present throughout the interior giving occupants a low-key hint of luxury. Weaving in the seats incorporate Chinese elements like classical knots, adding an element of refinement in the details.
Technology has become the core base in creating a luxurious interior environment. Inside, a panoramic integrated cockpit space has been created. Designers aimed to create a visually immersive luxurious environment integrating intelligent human-machine interaction to offer the best experience for drivers and passengers. Xingyue L is the first model to run Geely’s newest operating system, the Milky Way OS, which supports seamless linkage of four screens, two infotainment screens, fully digital driver instrument screen, and a 25.6in AR-HUD, providing drivers with access to the latest road and navigation information without averting their gaze.
The Xingyue L comes with a 10 speaker high-performance BOSE sound system which is combined with engine harmonic noise reduction technology and double layered soundproofing, creating a serene interior environment liken to a symphony concert hall. Interior lighting has also been raised to the next level with a customizable 72 colour atmospheric lighting scheme that changes according to the driving mode.
Developed on Geely’s most advanced Compact Modular Architecture, the Xingyue L is endowed with world-class safety, performance, intelligence, and sustainability. It is powered by Volvo and Geely’s jointly-developed 2.0L turbo direct injection engine and matched with either Geely’s self-developed 7-speed wet dual clutch or Aisin’s 8-speed automatic transmission. Users are offered two tuning options; a high-powered version with a maximum power of 175kW and up to 380 N•m of torque capable of a 0-100km/h acceleration in 7.7s or a mid-powered version with a maximum power of 160kW and up to 325 N•m capable of a 0-100km/h acceleration in 7.9s.
With BorgWarner’s sixth-generation four-wheel drive system, a 50:50 front/rear torque distribution is possible, offering Xingyue L users improved off-road performance. Five driving modes will be available; an energy efficient ECO mode, refined NORM mode, speedy SPORT mode, reliable SNOW mode, and a powerful OFFROAD mode.
As part of the Blue Geely Initiative, all Star models including the Xingyue L will be the first to offer users the option of utilizing Geely’s latest GHS2.0 hybrid powertrain system in the near future. Geely Hybrid System 2.0 which will be fully unveiled in Q4 2021, offers world-class thermal efficiency of 43.32% and fuel savings exceeding 40%.
Going beyond L2 autonomous drive, Xingyue L comes with Geely’s newest 5G-enabled, completely unmanned automated valet system. Within a 200-metre area such as a parking lot, the Xingyue L can drive independently, search for parking spots and park itself. The reverse can also be accomplished by calling the Xingyue L to pick up the user within a 200-metre area. The vehicle is able to achieve this feat through the integration of 12 ultrasonic radars, 5 millimetre wave radars, 4 high-def surround view cameras, 1 monocular camera, 1 dashcam, and 1 interior camera.
The advanced sensor suite also allows Xingyue L to be the first Geely model to offer HWA Highway Assisted Driving which actively monitors the vehicle’s surroundings, autonomously change lanes, and move safe distances away from large vehicles. Drivers can also direct the Xingyue L to autonomously change lanes through signaling.
Xingyue L comes with full firmware OTA which allows fundamental aspects of the vehicle, including intelligent safety, infotainment, power, chassis, autonomous drive, connectivity, etc to be upgraded over time. Connected to Geely’s technological ecosystem, the Xingyue L grows as Geely grows.
