GAC Aion LX plus
Magical border
Aion LX
© press-inform – the press office
The Aion sub-brand of the Chinese car maker GAC has cracked the 1,000-kilometer mark with the LX plus electric SUV.
The 1,000 kilometer range mark for electric vehicles has been cracked. At least on paper. According to the Chinese NEDC standard, which corresponds to the NEDC cycle, the Aion LX plus crossover can travel 1,008 kilometers on one battery charge. To make this route possible, the technicians of the GAC sub-brand have packed a monster battery with a capacity of 144.4 kilowatt hours into the SUV.
It is a ternary lithium battery with lithium-ion cells with an NMC cathode in connection with a silicon-containing anode, which is characterized by a high energy density of 205 watt hours per kilogram. Nevertheless, the energy cells should be lighter and more compact than the conventional variant and retain their performance even at low temperatures. Aion describes the design of the battery as “silicon sponge technology”. This means that the anode is as soft as a sponge. The GAC sub-brand seems to be convinced of this technology, because it offers a lifetime guarantee for the electrical system and the entire vehicle.
The Aion LX is nothing new as the crossover has been on the market for two years. The addition “plus” in the name indicates the massively increased battery capacity. The regular model rolls with a 93 kWh battery, a maximum output of 300 kW / 408 PS and all-wheel drive and a range of around 650 kilometers to the dealer. Such engine power is not necessarily conducive to long-range hunting. So the Aion LX plus is driven by a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PSM) with 180 kW / 245 PS. However, this motor has to move a weight of significantly more than two tons. This means that top sporting performances are not possible, but in China it is more about comfort than sprinter quality.
The chassis is identical to that of the other LX models with a MacPherson independent wheel suspension at the front and a five-link rear axle, but should be tuned slightly differently due to the higher weight. With a length of 4.84 meters, the plus version is around six centimeters longer than the previous versions of the Aion LX. The wheelbase remains the same at 2.92 meters. Nevertheless, the occupants should not suffer from a lack of space. Especially since the Aion-Plus comes with Napa leather and other amenities, such as a panoramic roof, a “highly efficient CN95 filter” or, on request, a Chinese medicine fragrance.
In the cockpit, the driver and front passenger enjoy a 12.2-inch touchscreen and wireless infotainment updates. When it comes to driving assistants, the Aion LX plus also offers something up-to-date. Including an adaptive cruise control, a lane keeping and blind spot assistant. On the Chinese carmaker’s homepage, under the title “ADiGO Intelligent Driving Assistant System – ADiGO 3.0”, an intelligent driving assistance system for motorways and a high-precision map are already being announced, which, however, cannot yet be ordered. The price is also not yet known.