Is this the car to replace the iconic Tesla Model S? XPeng P7+ shown in Australia for the first time, sub $90K price promised!

June 27, 2025June 28, 2025 Bruce Newton 10974 Views

The Chinese large luxury car that could fill the void left by the departure of the Tesla Model S from Australia has been unveiled at Melbourne EV Show.

And if the XPeng P7+ is confirmed to come to Australia, pricing would be pitched under $90,000!

Claimed to be the world-first “car defined by artificial intelligence (AI), the P7+ is very much the star of the EV show, which runs until Sunday at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (Jeff’s Shed colloquially).

The P7+ was shown off to media at last night’s show preview by Jason Clarke, CEO of the Chinese automative start-up’s Australian distributor, TrueEV.

On-sale in China and also shown in Europe, the P7+ has never been displayed publicly in Australia before.

This left-hand drive version of the five-door hatchback is in Australia for evaluation purposes and no decision has as yet been made about whether it will go on-sale.

But Clarke – a luxury and performance sedan fan – clearly wants it.

“This is a fantastic car, it’s been very popular car in China but hasn’t been seen before in Australia,” he said.

“I remember seeing the Tesla Model S for the first timer and thinking it was amazing. Sadly that’s not made in right-hand drive for us here in Australia so potentially the P7+ could fill the void.

“Our job at TrueEV is to see if there is a market for the P7+. We have purchased this car, brought it in and have studies being done testing the market.

“If we find there is a strong market for it we will put strong pressure on head office to bring it in to Australia.”

Clarke said there could be no concrete guidance on P7+ timing until the business case study was completed, but he did offer a very solid hint on pricing.

“The [P7+] price range? We are always trying to get with the XPeng brand within the luxury car tax threshold, but this is a luxury executive sedan so it’s going to be pushing it.

“But the guidance is under it [LCT].”

For 202526 the LCT is set at $91,387 for “fuel efficient” vehicles.

Currently TrueEV only sells the XPeng G6 Tesla Model Y fighter in Australia, but it is soon planning to launch the G9 large SUV, wants to get the X9 people-mover on-sale and is keen to secure the Mona M03 compact sedan and G7 medium SUV for Australia as well.

In Chinese spec the 5.056m P7+ comes with a choice of 60.7kWh and 76.3kWh batteries and 180kW or 230kW rear-mounted e-motors. The CLTC range is claimed to be as high as 710km and as low as 602km. Its starting price in China is 186,000 yuan ($40,000 approx).

The version on display in Melbourne is fitted with the larger battery and has a claimed 560km-610km range based on WLTP testing. A slick 0.206 aerodynamic Cd helps with its frugality.

XPeng claims the P7+ can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds and can recharge from 10-80 per cent battery capacity courtesy of its 800V electrical architecture in just 12 minutes.

The P7+ is loaded down with tech including what is claimed to be world first “AI-defined” smart-driving, cockpit intelligence and high-end automated driving assistants powered by XPeng’s own Turing chip, as well as a Qualcomm 8259P chip to run the voice-activated cockpit commands and that car’s multiple screens.

“AI-defined basically means the car adapts to you,” explained Clarke. “It’s learning about you and it’s learning about the conditions.

“The AI needs cameras for processing and fast rendering speeds for getting all that information into the cockpit so you are safe, that your conditions are known and the car adapts.

“But also looking at your ride, the quality of your ride and the quality of your decision making. So that might mean constantly reviewing how you drive and battery usage.

“So again, AI is learning about how you are using it, how you are drawing on the battery and giving you tips on how to be a more efficient and safer driver.”

No less than 20 speakers boom audio out through the cabin. The boot opens up to offer 725 or 2221 litres of space depending on whether the rear seat is folded or not.