Dongfeng Forthing Xinghai V9

Model Overview

The Dongfeng Forthing Xinghai V9 is the debut model under Dongfeng Forthing’s "Forthing Xinghai" new energy vehicle (NEV) lineup. Positioned as a mid-to-large plug-in hybrid (PHEV) MPV, it was officially introduced to the market in 2024. As a strategic move for Dongfeng Forthing in the new energy MPV arena, the Xinghai V9 spearheads the brand’s push towards upmarket and electrified mobility. The model range comprises multiple variants, including the Chinese Knot series, Qingyunti series, and Yuexiang series, built around the "luxury smart-electric first class" concept to cater to both family road trips and corporate executive transport. The 2027 model year officially hit the market on 7 June 2026, offering 3 variants with official recommended retail prices ranging from RM179,900 to RM229,900, alongside super trade-in prices between RM169,900 and RM219,900. The entire lineup runs on the Mach Dual-Engine Hybrid System, delivering a CLTC pure electric range of 200 km and a total cruising range of 1,300 km. By the end of 2025, the Xinghai V9 had garnered the trust of over 20,000 owners.

Design Language

The exterior of the Xinghai V9 offers two distinct front-end styling themes—"Chinese Knot" and "Qingyunti"—to suit different customer tastes. The 2027 model carries over the "Qingyunti" fascia, featuring a full-width front grille adorned with dense horizontal chrome louvres symbolising "nine steps to steady advancement". The front lighting cluster comprises 150 LED diodes in a fringe-like array, paired with "Shiquan Shimei" gem auxiliary high beams for a striking visual signature at night. Along the flanks, the "River Shadow" shoulder line sweeps from the front fender all the way to the tail lights, complemented by blacked-out window pillars and chrome upper window trims to create a sleek floating roof effect. Round the back, full-width LED tail lights house 340 LED light sources, delivering high visibility at night alongside a smoked finish that lends an upmarket touch.

Dimension-wise, it measures 5,230 mm in length, 1,920 mm in width, and 1,820 mm in height, riding on a 3,018 mm wheelbase, squarely matching the mainstream footprint of mid-to-large MPVs. It boasts an 85.2% space efficiency rating, with effective cabin space utilisation exceeding 85%.

Inside, the cabin takes on the "Mountain and Cloud Stream" design theme, finished in a dual-tone black and brown palette for a premium ambience. All variants come standard with a triple-screen setup comprising dual 15.6-inch infotainment and front passenger entertainment displays alongside a 10.25-inch full digital instrument cluster. Seat cushioning thickness has been increased by 30 mm, while overall cabin NVH insulation has been comprehensively upgraded.

Powertrain and Performance

The entire Xinghai V9 range is powered by the Mach Dual-Engine Hybrid System, combining a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous electric motor. The DFMC15TE3 engine develops 113 kW and 230 Nm of peak torque, while the front electric motor (supplied by Zhixin Technology) churns out 150 kW and 310 Nm. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a 1-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT).

Energy is stored in a 34.9 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack sourced from Sunwoda, good for a CLTC-rated pure electric range of 200 km. Total driving range reaches 1,300 km, while fuel consumption in hybrid mode with a depleted battery is rated at 5.27 L/100 km under the WLTC cycle. On the charging front, it supports DC super fast charging from 30% to 80% State of Charge (SOC) in just 18 minutes. A 6 kW Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) external power supply function is standard across the range, catering to outdoor camping and mobile workstation power requirements.

Chassis and Handling

The Xinghai V9 rides on a front-engine, front-wheel-drive platform, featuring MacPherson independent front suspension and a multi-link independent setup at the rear. The chassis tuning prioritises ride comfort, which, paired with the generous 3,018 mm wheelbase, delivers reassuring high-speed cruising stability. Electric Power Steering (EPS), an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), and Auto Hold come standard across all variants. Braking duties are handled by ventilated discs at both the front and rear axles. It is backed by a class-leading 8-year/160,000 km manufacturer vehicle warranty.

Cabin and Equipment

Guided by the "luxury smart-electric first class" philosophy, the Xinghai V9 features a 2+2+3 seven-seater layout. The second row houses two individual airline-style captain seats with 12-way power adjustment, ventilation, heating, and massage functions, alongside powered ottoman leg rests, fold-out tray tables, and integrated armrest control panels. A wide 20 cm centre aisle allows occupants to move seamlessly between the second and third rows without stopping the vehicle. The third-row seats feature a 60:40 split-folding and underfloor stowage design, folding completely flat to maximise luggage space. Boot capacity stands at 593 litres with all 7 seats in place, expanding up to 2,792 litres when the third row is stowed away. The cabin is peppered with 42 storage compartments throughout.

On the tech front, the 2027 model is upgraded with the automotive-grade Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chipset (replacing the 8155 chip in the 2024 model) and integrates dual AI large language models—Baidu ERNIE Bot and DeepSeek—supporting intelligent voice Q&A, route planning, and generative AI content creation. The infotainment system also adds an in-car karaoke function, an app store, and a four-zone voiceprint recognition voice assistant. The floating centre console features a "skiff-inspired" silhouette, underscored by water-ripple dashboard inlays across the cockpit.

Comfort features include a standard 5-litre in-car heating and cooling refrigerator, multi-zone automatic climate control across all rows, and a large panoramic glass roof. The driver's seat comes with 10-way power adjustment alongside ventilation, heating, massage, and memory settings, while the front passenger "queen seat" gets 8-way power adjustment. Acoustic performance is handled by a high-fidelity audio system, harmonised with a 64-colour sound-reactive ambient lighting system.

Safety and Advanced Driver Assistance

In terms of passive safety, the Xinghai V9 is underpinned by the EMA platform and engineered to meet global crash test standards. High-strength steel accounts for over 70% of the body structure, including a 20.5% share of hot-stamped ultra-high-strength steel. Comprehensive airbag coverage ensures cabin integrity and occupant survival space during a crash.

Active safety is bolstered by a standard Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) across the entire range, featuring Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). Parking convenience is enhanced with automated parking assist, remote parking, 50-metre reverse tracking assist, and sentry mode. Combined with a 360-degree surround-view monitor and a digital streaming rearview mirror, these systems take the stress out of manoeuvring this mid-to-large MPV through narrow parking bays and tight multi-storey carparks.

Battery safety is anchored by the Armor Battery 3.0 technology, having cleared extensive rigorous testing to safeguard against impacts and extreme operating conditions. Automatic post-collision high-voltage power cut-off is standard across all variants.

Market Performance and Verdict

The Xinghai V9 has experienced sales fluctuations since its market debut. From January to July 2025, cumulative sales reached 2,163 units, with 489 units registered in July alone. Deliveries surged by 200% month-on-month in October 2025, claiming top spot in its market segment. However, compared to stablemates like the Lingzhi (which recorded 610 units in March 2025), the Xinghai V9's overall volume as a premium NEV MPV still has room for growth. Key rivals include the Roewe iMAX8 DMH, Trumpchi E9, and Denza D9. In the RM200,000-bracket mid-to-large PHEV MPV segment, the Xinghai V9 stands out for exceptional value, especially with post-subsidy on-the-road prices kicking off from RM149,900.

Owner feedback highlights several strong suits: the 200 km pure EV range enables true zero-fuel daily urban commuting; the fold-flat underfloor third-row seats offer segment-leading practicality; the Qualcomm 8295P chipset paired with generative AI models delivers snappy infotainment interactions; and the extensive 8-year/160,000 km warranty provides great peace of mind. On the flip side, criticisms centre on relatively modest brand equity and limited brand awareness in the premium MPV space; early 2025 sales numbers that fell below expectations; and a dealership network whose coverage of dedicated high-end NEV service centres still requires expansion.

Serving as the vanguard for Dongfeng Forthing’s new energy offensive, the Xinghai V9 made its mark with precise market positioning as the "sole mid-to-large PHEV MPV in the RM200,000 segment", delivering tangible breakthroughs in range, space, onboard tech, and ride comfort. Nonetheless, with top-tier players tightening their grip on the MPV market, achieving its long-term ambition of becoming a "Top 3 domestic MPV brand" will require Dongfeng Forthing to continually strengthen brand building, dealer network capabilities, and customer lifecycle management.