Xiaomi's EREV Secret: Everything We Know About the "Kunlun" 7-Seat SUV

The Powertrain: It will feature a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine acting strictly as a generator. This isn't a traditional hybrid; the wheels are always driven by electricity.
The "Large Battery" Plan: Leaks suggest a massive 70kWh to 80kWh battery pack. This allows for nearly 500km of pure electric range before the gas generator even kicks in—total range is expected to hit a staggering 1,500km .
Targeting Li Auto: Pan Jiutang was blunt—Xiaomi is benchmarking the current EREV king, Li Auto L9 . By using a "Large Battery" strategy, Xiaomi hopes to offer a car that acts like an EV for 90% of city commutes but functions as a cross-country cruiser without charging stops.

Thursday, 15 January 2026 at 01:07

Xiaomi is no longer just a smartphone titan; it’s a predatory force in the EV market. After the massive success of the SU7 and the mid-size YU7 crossover (launched June 2025), the brand is shifting its focus toward Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs). This move, teased by Pan Jiutang of Xiaomi’s Industrial Investment Department on January 13, 2026, signals a departure from their "pure EV only" origins to tackle the one thing 800V charging hasn't killed: range anxiety.

The "Kunlun" Flagship: Specs and Strategy

The internal project codenamed "Kunlun" (likely to be branded as the YU9) is a massive, three-row, 7-seater SUV aimed directly at the luxury family market. Unlike the SU7’s sporty profile, Kunlun is a boxy, Range Rover-esque behemoth.

HyperConnect 3.0: The Ecosystem Advantage

What makes a Xiaomi car different from a traditional automaker’s EREV is HyperConnect. In 2026, the car is essentially a giant "Ultra" smartphone on wheels.

Smart Cockpit: Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite (automotive grade), the infotainment system integrates seamlessly with HyperOS 3.0.
Biometric Sync: Your Xiaomi Band 9 or XRING O1 will auto-sync heart rate and stress data to adjust the "Defocus" interior lighting and climate control.
Global Ambitions: While the EREV SUVs are China-first, Xiaomi’s new R&D center in Munich suggests these range-extended technologies are being prepped for an international "Stage 2" rollout in 2027.

With a 2026 delivery target of 550,000 units, Xiaomi isn't just playing catch-up; they are leveraging their "Redmi K-series" logic of high specs and aggressive pricing to dominate the family SUV segment.