Have you watched the recent European Cup?
As one of my few entertainment activities during busy workdays, I enjoy watching the European Cup and NBA playoffs. However, I live in an old residential area with relatively poor sound insulation, so I have to restrain myself when watching the European Cup late at night. I believe every soccer fan can relate to the frustration of not being able to cheer for their team, so I always hope to have my own space to watch the games.
During my recent participation in the XPeng P5 static experience, I was surprised to find that XPeng has defined the interior of the P5 as the “third space”, which made me wonder if the P5 could be my mobile viewing room.
Before introducing the space, let me introduce myself. I am 183cm tall and weigh 180 jin. The space that I am comfortable in is generally considered spacious for most people. When I saw the concept of the “third space” advertised for the P5, my first reaction was, “this small car, a sedan, and it claims to have the third space?” But after seeing the actual car, I realized that I had been fooled by the pictures. Although the P5 is built on the G3 platform, it is not a small car at all. It is 4,808 mm long with a wheelbase of 2,768 mm. The interior space is even larger than that of its older brother, the P7.
Is the space really that big?
The XPeng P5 is actually an A+ compact sedan. Many people think that a compact sedan would have limited interior space, perhaps even too crowded to sit, let alone lie down. However, I was surprised when I saw the actual car. In fully flat configuration, the car can comfortably accommodate an adult male around 180 cm tall. The position of the C-pillar of this car is different from that of many other sedans, allowing for more extended space, and shifting the overall vehicle rearward more, giving more interior space. The exterior looks more like a coupé, but this comes at the cost of sacrificing some storage space in the trunk.
When the Model Y first appeared, many people liked to go camping in this car because the space was large enough. However, if it wants to become a place for camping and sleeping, it can only fold down the rear seats and add a portable air bed. Although it can also be used as a tent, the drawback is that the overall space is not large enough, and the entertainment atmosphere in the car is not very good. There are also no especially bright lights in the trunk, so it is just a bed to sleep on. Who wouldn’t want to stay in a better “fully furnished” place?
However, when the XPeng P5 came out, another question arose: is it comfortable to sleep in this car? As we all know, most of the cars on the market cannot completely flatten the front seats at a large angle. This car uses Nappa leather material for all seats, and the front seats can be fully flattened at a large angle, ensuring the flatness of this bed. At this time, the Air-portable air bed equipped with the car can be placed in just 6 minutes. The sedan instantly turns into a large bedroom, and it is a completely flat bed. Moreover, this air bed is filled according to the diamond angle of the flattened seat, and every part is perfectly in place, making this “bed” feel like a Simmons mattress. In addition, it is also equipped with Xinjiang cotton quilts and memory foam pillows, allowing you to not have to worry about where to sleep. If you go out to play, you have money left over to book a hotel room, and there is no problem for two adults to lie down in the car space. Looking inside the car is like a sofa bed, and the most important thing is that you no longer have to worry about sleeping in the dark. You can also control the lights by voice.
The sleeping problem has been solved, but privacy is even more important. Nobody wants to be watched while they sleep. The XPeng P5 has also solved this problem. When adding this air mattress, it will also add a set of privacy insulation boards. This thing can cover it from all sides, and it is also single-translucent. From the inside, you can see a little bit, but from the outside, you can’t see anything at all. No matter whether the outside is strong light or the sun, it can block them well, ensuring the privacy of the car space, and it is very easy to install or remove.
Is it safe to sleep in the car?Since it is a “home”, besides a place to sleep, comfort is also needed. Many car enthusiasts are skeptical of whether it is safe to sleep in a car with the air conditioning on while driving. Those who have slept in a car know that the air inside the car becomes thin with the air conditioning on, so for safety reasons, the window will be half opened or left with a gap. This car’s air conditioning is equipped with a high-efficiency composite air filter, which effectively blocks carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. In addition, it also has air purification, fragrance, and air quality detection functions. When the sleep mode is turned on, it will automatically turn on to ensure the safety of those in the car. And there is no need to leave a gap anymore, otherwise, it will attract mosquitoes.
Mobile Party Room
With comfort resolved, how could entertainment facilities be missing? This car also comes with a XGimi car-mounted high-definition projector, which can be switched to car-mounted projection at the position of the headrest in the middle of the second row. There are also two small card slots in the sun visor position in the front row for the screen. By selecting “movie mode” from the car’s console, the interior of the car becomes a movie theater. Imagine a couple watching a movie, eating snacks and drinking beverages in this romantic environment, and saving money on going to the cinema. Not only that, watching the European Cup at home may disturb your family or neighbors, but you can shout as much as you want here.
Since there can be a party and watch the European Cup in the car, how can a refrigerator be missing? There is a 17.2L car refrigerator in the central armrest position of the rear row. With cold drinks, snacks and a movie or ball game, the comfortable time is really great.
However, the disadvantages of the refrigerator are not nonexistent. Since it is an electrical appliance, it definitely needs heat dissipation. The heat dissipation port of this car refrigerator is located in the trunk. As a result, the temperature in the trunk is too high. If there are things that are intolerant to heat, try not to put them in there. But if you have hot food, putting it in there can also have a thermal insulation effect. This way, it is not completely useless. But if camping, it is still okay to put some tables, chairs, benches, and other things in there.
How to Solve the Electric Issues for Traveling?
Since it is called “third space”, entertainment and relaxation have been resolved, but the issue of the battery has become the most concerned issue for many users, as the XPeng P5 is still a pure electric vehicle. However, there is no need to worry because this model is equipped with CATL lithium iron phosphate battery, which can achieve a maximum NEDC range of 600 kilometers. This means that there is no problem even if you want to go to slightly farther places. However, another issue arises – if you want to sleep in the car, use a refrigerator, turn on the air conditioning, and watch movies while listening to the music, is the battery level sufficient? If you are planning to drive far, then the issue of the vehicle’s range becomes a major concern.
In fact, in addition to the driving battery, the vehicle also comes with a small auxiliary battery. The latter provides power for the entertainment facilities inside the car, such as the air conditioning, refrigerator and car’s display when the car is parked. At this point, another issue arises – what happens if the auxiliary battery runs out of power? Doesn’t the primary battery have to come into play? The XPeng car manufacturers certainly have thought through this issue. Therefore, they placed a surrounding circle of 60 W maximum power of solar panels around the panoramic skylight, which are dedicated to charging the auxiliary battery. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about the battery level and can confidently use it.
Give Me a Reason to Buy It
Nowadays, a lot of young people like to travel by self-driving. If you want something more stylish and unique, then there is something beyond just being in the car – outdoor camping and picnic. Here, XPeng P5 has introduced the concept of X-Go outdoor scene. In addition to the need of the car’s range, shading umbrellas, tables, chairs, and benches are also required for outdoor activities. However, you also need to consider the need for electricity. At this time, many people will bring outdoor battery packages to the outdoors.
Driving an electric car is already energy-intensive, and adding the demand for external power output will only make it more inconvenient.I believe many people have similar concerns, but with this car, you don’t need to worry about them anymore. It has a device that can output electricity externally in the slow charging port, which can meet all your outdoor power needs, and can even charge other electric cars. It can also be used as an outdoor rescue vehicle. This way, you can save money on buying outdoor batteries. As for other equipment like tables, chairs, and benches, they can all be placed in its trunk, which has a depth of nearly 740 mm, so traveling outdoors is no longer a problem.
After seeing all these advantages and functions, the most important question arises: why should I choose a compact sedan instead of a larger car like an SUV for traveling? Indeed, if I had to choose by myself, I’d be concerned too, since I’m around 180 pounds. However, after learning about this car, it gave me a more perfect answer. Most young people’s first choice of a car is a small car that is easy to drive, has low usage costs, and large space, which a compact sedan like the P5 is perfect for, but that’s not the main point.
In addition, if you choose a larger SUV model, the space is larger and it can be loaded, but the entertainment equipment is not as rich. If you want to have as many entertainment equipment as the P5, then you need a lot of time, effort, and money. If the budget is not enough, this plan is not worthwhile. The issue here is also a matter of cost. Whether it is a new energy vehicle or a fuel vehicle, models with such spacious interiors generally come with a high price tag. However, the price of this car is estimated to be around 150,000 to 200,000 yuan. If it falls within this price range, the P5’s cost-effectiveness should be able to beat other options. Moreover, new energy vehicle models below 300,000 yuan can enjoy the country’s preferential policies.
Finally, let’s talk about the high-tech features of this P5, which include the autonomous driving assistance system, XPILOT 3.5. This technology is more advanced than the P7, and has evolved from high-speed NGP to city NGP. Simply put, the previous NGP could only provide navigation assistance on expressways, but with the 3.5 version, it also offers driving assistance for city roads.The XPeng P5 is not only a means of transportation, it is also the world’s first mass-produced car equipped with LiDAR. It integrates two automotive-grade LiDARs, five high-precision millimeter-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, four automatic assisted driving surround-view cameras, and nine automatic assisted driving high-perception cameras. It achieves a dual fusion of visual and LiDAR 360-degree environmental perception, effectively avoiding potential dangers such as obstacles and pedestrians whether in city streets or at night.
For many years, there has been a saying that “cars are not just means of transportation”. Finally, the XPeng P5’s “third space” brings a practical solution for us. For users, it is also a cost-effective model. Of course, we hope that XPeng Motors can continuously develop more practical things for users to use in different scenarios. The 23-hour intelligent “third space” can accommodate novel comfort and romantic ceremonial feelings. Whether you are a young person just entering society, or an adult who has been suppressed by life and work for a long time, occasionally letting go of anxieties and enjoying the life that we have not yet experienced, driving a good car for miles can always make yourself settle down and learn to let go. Life is just like that, only by learning to enjoy it can we have a broader future.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.