Xiaomi Pengcheng SUV Rebuilds Development Process Around Interior Features

On July 10, Hu Zhengnan, Vice President of Xiaomi Group and CTO of its Automobile Division, revealed that the Xiaomi Pengcheng SUV was developed using three "first-ever" strategies: 1) For the first time, interior design requirements were used as the starting point to define exterior hard points; 2) For the first time, usage scenarios and functionalities served as the foundation, upon which design creativity was harmonized; 3) For the first time, mechanical architecture, functional safety, and expected functional safety (SOTIF) were simultaneously considered within the same vehicle model. This approach breaks from traditional automotive development logic by prioritizing the definition of in-cabin functions and spatial layout before working backward to derive the exterior design. The Pengcheng’s interior emphasizes “intelligent space transformation.” It features a flat floor and an extended sliding rail system, accommodating multiple passengers and luggage during driving. When parked, both the driver and front passenger seats can rotate 180 degrees rearward, the center console module can slide forward or backward—or shift sideways to unfold into a folding table—and the second row is equipped with zero-gravity seats featuring leg rests. The Pengcheng represents Xiaomi Auto’s second major product line, internally codenamed Kunlun N3. Positioned as a full-size range-extended electric SUV, it measures over 5.3 meters in length with a wheelbase of approximately 3.1 meters. The vehicle is scheduled for launch in the second half of 2026. Development began in early 2023 and spanned three and a half years, marking Xiaomi’s first vehicle powered by a range-extender system.