Geely Xingyue L Plus debuts with 2,900mm wheelbase, rear-wheel steering, and new hybrid tech

Geely has unveiled the Xingyue L Plus in China. The new model keeps the familiar Xingyue L shape, but gets a more substantial look and a much longer equipment list, including LiDAR, Nvidia's Orin-Y chip and Geely's H5 driver-assistance system.

Exterior design

The Xingyue L Plus keeps the overall design of the current Xingyue L, although the front end has been given a more substantial look.

The front end is dominated by a vertical-slat grille, with large chrome sections built into the bumper. Geely calls the look "Eastern Impression", with the chrome treatment matched by a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor.

The side profile remains fairly upright, with factory roof rails and conventional door handles. Chrome trim runs along the window surrounds, below the side mirrors and across the side skirts.

At the rear, the Xingyue L Plus gets a full-width tail-light bar with softer, rounder detailing than the current model, along with more chrome.

The SUV measures 4,955mm long, 1,960mm wide and 1,769mm tall, with a 2,900mm wheelbase. It is offered with 20- or 21-inch wheels.

Cabin space

Geely has deliberately opted for a 5-seater configuration rather than shoehorning a third row. That leaves more room for rear passengers and luggage.

The cabin has a claimed 85.2% space utilisation rate, and rear passengers get a reclining seatback of up to 137 degrees, 183mm of knee room and a 100mm-extending leg rest. The rear seats also offer 14-point massage.

The boot offers 740 litres of cargo space in standard configuration, which expands to 1,760 litres when the rear seats are folded down. The loading opening is 1,130mm wide.

There are also 39 storage spaces throughout the cabin, including an 11-litre drawer-style glovebox and a 10-litre hot-and-cold box. The car doors can open to nearly 90 degrees to make getting in and out easier.

Powertrain

The Xingyue L Plus uses Geely's 2.0TD hybrid engine, with a claimed thermal efficiency of 48.41% (the highest among mass-production engines globally). The engine produces 160 kW (218 PS) and 360 Nm.

It is paired with Geely's 3DHT hybrid transmission and an integrated electric drive system with a claimed efficiency of 91%. The P3 motor produces up to 230 kW (313 PS) and can rev to 22,400 rpm.

Rear-wheel steering and air suspension

The chassis combines double wishbones at the front with a five-link rear suspension, together with a dual-chamber air suspension system.

The Xingyue L Plus also gets rear-wheel steering, with up to ±10 degrees of rear-wheel angle. Geely quotes a minimum turning radius of just 4.88 metres, despite the SUV being nearly five metres long.

That should make tight U-turns and parking manoeuvres considerably easier, while a "crab walk" mode is also available.

LiDAR and six-screen cabin

The Xingyue L Plus comes with a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor, Nvidia Orin-Y, and Geely's G-ASD H5 driver-assistance system. There are 27 sensing and detection hardware components in total, working with Geely's own AI Drive model.

Inside, the cabin gets a 30-inch 6K panoramic display, a 10.2-inch instrument screen, a 17.3-inch rear display and a 32-inch AR-HUD. Together with the driver's smartphone, the setup can create a six-screen experience.

The infotainment system runs Flyme Auto 2.5 and includes a Super EVA assistant with four-zone voice recognition.

The seats use Geely's "Marshmallow 2.0" design with an 11-layer construction and four-way ergonomic lumbar support. A 23-speaker audio system is also available.

Will it come to Malaysia?

Geely has not announced a final price for the Xingyue L Plus in China.

For Malaysian buyers, the more interesting question is whether it could eventually arrive as a Proton model.

With Proton and Geely working increasingly closely together, the Xingyue L Plus could be an interesting candidate for the local line-up, although there is no word yet on whether it is being considered for Malaysia.

For reference, the Proton X70 is currently offered locally in two variants:

• 1.5TD Executive: RM 99,800
• 1.5TD Premium: RM 112,800