Author: Guo Hehe
Because of it, the Ideal ONE is no longer the best car under 5 million.
I don’t know how many people still remember the meme of “Zhen Hao Chuan” by Luo Yonghao, but since the announcement of the Ideal L9, the Ideal ONE is no longer the best model of Ideal.
From the leaked exterior design images to waves of spoilers, there is no doubt that Ideal’s marketing reaction is both rapid and eye-catching.
As Ideal’s flagship SUV model, the Ideal L9 is officially positioned as a full-size SUV, and in terms of competitors, Ideal has set its sights on “king models” of GLS, BMW X7, and Range Rover. Although the official size data has not yet been released, judging from the leaked data of 5200/1998/1800mm in length/width/height and a wheelbase of 3100mm, the design of Ideal L9 does have the same air as them.
In terms of appearance, the upper part of the front face is a star ring light that runs through the entire front of the car. This design style had already emerged on the Ideal ONE, but it is more exquisite and beautiful on the L9. It is said that Ideal even developed a special production line for the continuous star ring light without any breakpoints.
Beside the star ring light is a turn signal-like area, which is not just a turn signal. It is reportedly also an ADAS indicator light, used to show whether the L9 is in automatic driving or not, and this operation is unprecedented among the new forces.
The headlights feature a split design. Based on the image, it is probable that the L9 uses a matrix-style headlight. Unlike the Ideal ONE, the headlights do not have a large intake grille in the middle, opting instead for a more enclosed design that is similar to electric cars. The vehicle only has an intake opening on the lower part of the headlights, which is said to be an active intake that can automatically close.
To achieve a higher level of autonomous driving, it is almost certain that the L9 will be equipped with a LiDAR system. However, for cost or design considerations, only a single LiDAR from Hesai, the AT128, is mounted on the roof.
The entire vehicle is equipped with 11 cameras, including a wide-angle and medium-long focal camera on the front end and in front of the rearview mirror. As for radar, it is likely that there are 5 millimeter-wave radars and 12 ultrasonic radars.
From the side, the distinct positioning of the Ideal L9 is evident. The straight lines extend all the way to the end of the vehicle, without the sloping design frequently seen in some SUVs nowadays, creating ample space for the head of each passenger.
Regarding the interior, even on the day when the exterior of the Ideal L9 was unveiled, Ideal had already released several high-definition pictures of the interior. We also analyzed this interior design in a previous article, and interested readers can click the link to read more. In this article, we will focus on several key aspects for further analysis.
Firstly, similar to the Tesla Model 3, the Ideal L9 completely eliminates the LCD instrument panel in favor of a large-size HUD to cultivate new user viewing habits.
Secondly, there is a small LCD screen just above the center of the steering wheel, which Ideal refers to as the safety screen. In addition to displaying the current speed, it also displays the current gear, power consumption, and remaining range, to some extent compensating for users who are not accustomed to the removal of the instrument panel. The screen can also be operated by touch, and various functions such as driving mode can be adjusted through this screen.
Finally, Ideal later released two more waves of spoilers and revealed the most crucial information about the three-electric control system, essentially revealing all details of the car to the public.First of all, the Ideal ONE L9 deliberately made the sound system an important part of the spoiler this time. The new car will have 21 speakers, with a maximum amplifier power of 2160W. The high, medium and low speakers are made of different materials and equipped with Dolby panoramic sound technology, and they are equipped with a 4D immersive audio and video mode. The sound team is led by the former Dirac China chief tuning team, which is actually not unfamiliar to everyone. The sound tuning of Volvo Baohua Weijian and NIO is also from this team.
Secondly, the seat frame and safety restraint of the 6 seats in the car are all made of the highest level of Nappa leather and 3D comfort sponge, which support electric adjustment and seat heating. The four independent seats in the first two rows all support seat ventilation function and massage function. It is reported that the second-row seats also use 4D technology, which can bring a more immersive feeling in combination with the sound system. Before the Ideal L9, only the Mercedes S and BMW iX were using this technology.
The power aspect that everyone cares most about is still using range-extender technology. As the biggest beneficiary of range-extender electric vehicles, it is only natural for Ideal to choose to stick to the range-extender route. However, the engine has been changed from three cylinders to four cylinders and the thermal efficiency has also been improved. In addition, the pure electric range has increased to 215km and the full oil and electricity situation can achieve 1315km (CLTC condition).
Dual-motor four-wheel drive, 130kW in the front and 200kW in the back, peak torque of 620N·m, and acceleration of 5.3 seconds per hundred kilometers. This acceleration level can be called stunning, whether it is placed in the SUV of this size or in a product within the 400,000 to 500,000 yuan price range.
The Ideal ONE L9’s chassis structure uses a front double-wishbone and rear five-link form, which is obviously superior to the front MacPherson of the Ideal ONE in terms of handling and comfort, and the L9 is also equipped with air suspension that the Ideal ONE doesn’t have. The spring uses WABCO air springs, and adopts the Continental CDC continuously adjustable damping suspension system, which can automatically adjust the damping feedback in milliseconds according to the road vibration. The air spring can automatically lower the body at high speeds to save energy, and provide more convenient access and loading and unloading of luggage when parking.
In the spoiler, we found that the L9 does not have rear-wheel steering function. The official also admitted that rear-wheel steering would not appear on the L9. However, the turning radius can be smaller than that of the Ideal ONE.
On the car regulation chip, the central domain controller of the Ideal L9 will use the latest S32G car-grade chip from NXP, and the Ideal car will complete the research and development of all hardware, software and systems. The implementation of functions, including extended-range electric drive systems, air conditioning systems, chassis systems, and seat control systems, are all self-developed. The translation has two meanings: 1. To show the muscle of Ideal and to demonstrate their research and development capabilities. The fact that hardware, software, and systems are all in-house increases data security assurance. 2. Self-developed hardware and software can significantly increase the coverage of future OTA.
Above are all the information about Ideal L9 that has been announced so far. Although the information was released in several weeks, there was indeed a lot of valuable information. The official also stated that there is another surprise announcement waiting to be revealed on next Wednesday, which follows a TV series-style update frequency and marketing rhythm that Ideal has mastered. According to the previous official post, the pre-sale price of the Ideal L9 is 450,000 to 500,000 yuan. Excluding the brand premium, the hardware level of the Ideal L9 is indeed priced appropriately. Unlike the Ideal ONE, which focuses on sales volume, the L9 is an important attempt for the brand to move upmarket. Compared with the audience group of Ideal ONE, the consumption group of this car is relatively less sensitive to price and more focused on the feelings that the product brings. If the actual performance can meet the advertised product capabilities, I think this car will soon occupy a place in the market that originally belonged to luxury fuel-powered cars.
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.