Wen Tao
Articles by this author on 42HOW Auto, including co-authored stories.
The Xiaomi SU7 Looks Unchanged, But It's Actually a Different Car
Xiaomi has launched the refreshed SU7 electric sedan, raising prices by RMB 4,000 across all trims while adding standard 800V architecture, NVIDIA Thor chips for driver assistance, and significant interior and chassis upgrades.
Lotus For Me: A 'Compromise' for the Obsessive?
Lotus has launched the For Me, a plug-in hybrid SUV featuring a 2.0-liter turbo engine and dual motors producing 952 Ps. Priced at RMB 528,000 to RMB 588,000, it introduces plug-in hybrid power to the brand’s current electrification strategy.
How Li i8 Achieves Class-Leading Range Through Systemic Efficiency
Li Auto's Li i8 achieves a 68.3% highway range attainment rate at 92.1 km/h average speed by combining a 0.218 drag coefficient, an 800-volt SiC architecture, and advanced thermal management to maximize efficiency without relying on oversized batteries.
Can the New XPENG X9 Match Sedans in City Energy Consumption?
42HOW Auto's road test of the 2025 XPENG X9 front-wheel-drive long-range Max reveals city energy consumption as low as 15 kWh/100 km and a CLTC range achievement rate of 95%, challenging expectations for large MPVs. The vehicle also demonstrates rapid charging capabilities with a peak power of 420 kW on Huawei's 600 kW liquid-cooled stations.
Battery Swapping 2.0: CATL's 'Three-Minute War'
At the Shanghai Auto Show, CATL announced ten new battery-swapping vehicles developed in partnership with Yiqi, Changan, Beiqi, Chery, and Guangqi, marking a major expansion of its Qiaokelihuandian ecosystem.
BYD and DJI Launch Lingyuan Drone System; Refreshed Model Y Hits US Market; GAC Toyota Bozhi 3X Debuts; Maxus G50 Hybrid Pre-Sales Open | E-Week Highlights
BYD and DJI unveiled the Lingyuan smart in-car drone system, marking BYD as the first automaker to mass-produce such technology. Meanwhile, Tesla started deliveries of the refreshed Model Y in the United States, while GAC Toyota launched the Bozhi 3X and SAIC Maxus began pre-sales for its hybrid G50 MPV.
L3, Zunjie S800 Is Ready
At the Zunjie S800 technology launch, Huawei showcased its Tulinglongxingpingtai chassis and sensor hardware but did not reveal the ADS 4.0 system or demonstrate L3 autonomous driving capabilities, which are expected at the vehicle's May market launch.
NIO Launches ET9 Flagship and Firefly Sub-brand; Zhijie R7 EREV Enters Market
At NIO Day, the company unveiled its ET9 executive sedan starting at RMB 788,000 and announced the Firefly sub-brand with a pre-sale price of RMB 148,800. Meanwhile, the Zhijie R7 extended-range electric vehicle launched in China, and CATL initiated its standardized battery-swap ecosystem.
VOYAH Zhiyin, Qichen VX6, and TANK 500 Hi4-T 'Black Warrior' Launch; Chery Unveils Kunpeng Battery
VOYAH launched the all-electric Zhiyin starting at RMB 179,900, while Qichen introduced the spacious VX6 EV. Concurrently, Chery presented its Kunpeng Battery and Yaoguang 2025 strategy at a global innovation summit, and TANK released the black-themed 500 Hi4-T edition.
DENZA Z9GT Pre-Sales Open; Baojunyunhai Pre-Sales; AVATR 012 Pre-Sales at RMB 700,000 | E-Week Highlights
DENZA launched pre-sales for the Z9GT and Z9 models, with the Z9GT starting at RMB 339,800. Baojun unveiled its Yunhai SUV with prices from RMB 121,800, and AVATR announced a limited-edition 012 sedan with a pre-sale price of RMB 700,000.
Xiaomi SU7 Pro Surprises with Impressive Range | 42Test
A 42HOW Auto road test of the Xiaomi SU7 Pro reveals a highway range achievement rate of 72% and an average speed of 102.7 km/h, with charging performance peaking at 242 kW on a 600 kW station despite its 400 V architecture.
PHEVs Rise: MPV Market Dynamics Shift
Buick has launched the GL8 Lu Zun PHEV, its first plug-in hybrid MPV, joining a rapidly growing segment dominated by Chinese brands like VOYAH. As domestic new-energy MPV sales surge, the arrival of this legacy model intensifies competition in a market where plug-in hybrids now account for nearly 70% of new-energy MPV sales.