Here’s the inevitable question on everyone’s minds: Could this new Xingyue L be the next Proton X80 perhaps?
After weeks of teasers and leaks, Geely has finally pulled the covers off its new Xingyue L at the ongoing 2021 Shanghai Auto Show. Touted by the new flagship within the Chinese auto giant’s expansive range, this newly launched 5-seater SUV is supposedly positioned above the larger, 7-seat Hao Yue that was launched last year.
There is however a good reason for this smaller Xingyue L to hold the title as Geely’s current flagship, as this new SUV really does spearhead the automaker into a new age. Bringing with it not only a new design direction for the exterior and interior, but also heaps and heaps advanced technologies too.
Starting with the design changes first, the new Xingyue L is supposedly based on Geely’s new ‘Symphony of Space and Time’ aesthetic. To those who don’t speak marketing lingo, what this essentially translates to is a more aggressive interpretation of the automaker’s current Expanding Cosmos design language, which in turn means a more imposing front grille with vertical slats, a more squared-off side profile as well as a cleaner tailgate design.
Continuing on the topic of the tailgate for the moment, the highlight round the back there would be the full-width taillight cluster that consists of 176 individual dot-matrix LEDs which can supposedly be made to create a ‘cosmic aurora’ effect. Equally trick lights also found up front with the 126 individually controllable LED within each of the headlights able to perform customised lighting effects.
The fancy lighting signatures however are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the tech found aboard the Xingyue L, as more impressively perhaps is this new Geely’s autonomous valet system. Courtesy of its 5G connectivity and a suite of sensors (12 ultrasonic radars, 5 millimetre wave radars, 4 high-definition surround view camera, 1 monocular camera, 1 dashcam, 1 interior camera and 24 other environmental sensors), this Chinese SUV can therefore be summoned from a parking lot or commanded to find its own parking spot on its own, with the only condition being that the driver must be within 200 m from the car.
Aside from this self-parking feature, all these sensors naturally also mean that the Xingyue L is capable of Level 2 autonomy. The 5G connectivity too gives rise to the metre-long high-definition (1920 x 720) infotainment and driver’s display screen that spans across this new SUV’s minimalist dashboard.
As for the rest of the highlights within the cabin of this new Geely SUV, the standard suede ‘polished cyberpunk black with a classical bronze verdigris patina’ (= black and green) dual-tone cabin is topped off with a 72-colour customisable ambient lighting system and various Chinese motifs like ‘weavings that portray Chinese classical knots within the seats’ for that added air of luxury. The prize for the truly luxurious interior feature however would be the 10 speaker high-performance BOSE sound system, that when combined with engine harmonic noise reduction technology and double layered soundproofing will apparently create ‘a serene interior environment liken to a symphony concert hall’.
Now moving onto the mechanicals of the Xingyue L, this new SUV sits on the same Geely CMA platform co-developed with Volvo that currently underpins the Preface sedan and the Xingyue SUV-coupe. As for engine choices meanwhile for this new model, there is also only the sole choice of a 2.0 litre turbocharged four pot that was incidentally jointly developed with the Swedish automaker.
Two flavours of tune however are on offer with the same engine: a lower-powered 218 PS and 325 Nm of torque on tap that is good for a 0-100 km/h time of 7.9 seconds, or a more-powerful alternative with 238 PS and 380 Nm of torque for a century sprint time of 7.7 seconds. The former engine option is mated to a Geely-developed 7-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the front wheels, while the latter drives all four wheels via an Aisin-sourced 8-speed automatic gearbox and a BorgWarner 6th generation four-wheel drive system with 5 drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, Snow and Offroad) and 50:50 torque distribution.
Geely has confirmed that the official domestic launch of its new flagship is set for the coming weeks, with international exports to be considered for the near future. So could this Xingyue L perhaps then be the new Proton X80? Well, one can only hope.
PRESS RELEASE: Geely Auto (Geely), the largest privately-owned Chinese brand, unveiled its newest CMA-based SUV to the public at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show. Named the Xingyue L in China, the high-end SUV is the latest design masterpiece which takes Geely Auto’s modernistic “Accelerating through Space and Time” aesthetic in a new direction.
Designed at Geely Design Shanghai, the Xingyue L expands on the design developments from Geely Auto’s Preface concept. Vice President of Geely Design Shanghai, Guy Burgoyne, commented, “In 2019, we unveiled a preface of what’s to come, a new design language and a slingshot from our Expanding Cosmos philosophy. In 2020, with the new design language and the passion for realizing an idea into reality, we conceived a super premium and refined SUV concept. Today, this super premium concept has become the Xingyue L”.
Under Geely’s Expanding Cosmos design philosophy is the modernistic “Accelerating through Space and Time” aesthetic. The latest Xingyue L has taken this aesthetic and evolved it into a new “Symphony of Space and Time,” a symphony resulting from all of Geely’s experiences and innovations, a symphony of Eastern and Western styling, a symphony of humanity and technology.
Symphony of Space and Time
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.
From the front, a bold and determined energy emanates from the signature Expanding Cosmos grille. Vertical slats in the grille expand from Geely’s logo towards the periphery like a moving cosmic energy wave. Three-segmented matrix front headlamps give a hint of the technology inherent in the Xingyue L. Each headlamp is comprised of 126 individually controllable LEDs, allowing brightness and even lighting effects to be customized.
From the side, a luxurious streamlined design with clean lines which simplify complexity can be seen. The slingshot aesthetic inherited from the Preface is present once again as a highlight going from the side-view mirrors around the side windows, and circling back towards the A-pillar.
At the rear, the Xingyue L gets dot-matrix tail lamps with 176 LEDs. Connected to each other by a strip of lights, the visual effect of a cosmic aurora is created when viewing the Xingyue L from the rear.
High Mountains and Flowing Rivers
The interior of the Xingyue is where a true symphony between Eastern and Western styling is seen. Inspired by the classical Eastern image of high mountains and flowing rivers, a panoramic integrated cockpit space is created. Designers aimed to create a visually immersive luxurious environment integrating intelligent human-machine interaction to offer the best experience for drivers and passengers.
The first feature that stands out is a metre long flowing infotainment screen connecting the co-pilot to the driver. Visually stacked atop the driver’s digital instrument panel, the front dash is reminiscent of overlapping mountains. While technologically advanced, this interior design feature does not lose sight of the core Eastern cultural concept of “sharing experience with everyone around you.” The newest generation of GKUI allows seamless connectivity, ultra-high speed data, and 1920×720 high-def resolution.
Creating an interior that’s modernistic yet classically refined comes down to the details, including selective material choices and colours. The Xingyue L comes with a dual toned interior which combines a polished cyberpunk black with a classical bronze verdigris patina. The cyberpunk black highlights the model’s technological heritage while the verdigris green is reminiscent of ritual bronze ware given to nobility in Asian history. Custom suede is present throughout the interior giving occupants a low-key hint of luxury with its soft feather like feel. Weaving in the seats incorporate Chinese elements like classical knots, adding an element of refinement in the details while giving a visual reminder of where the brand is from.
Technology also plays a major part in creating a luxurious interior environment. 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.
Continuous Evolution
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.
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 100% on its own, search for 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, 1 interior camera, and 24 environmental sensors.
Following the steps of the Preface in connectivity, 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.
The new Xingyue L is Geely Auto’s most accomplished flagship SUV to date. It combines elegance and refinement inspired by the classic imagery of high mountains and flowing rivers. Geely’s latest high-end SUV is set to be launched in the Chinese market in coming weeks with plans to go global in the near future.
