Li Auto is reinventing one of its best-sellers. The all-new second-generation Li Auto L8 — revealed ahead of an official June 23, 2026 launch — makes a bold change: it drops the old six-seat layout to become a spacious five-seater, repositioned as a no-compromise flagship. As a range-extender (REV), it pairs a 1.5-litre generator engine with a big new 72.7 kWh battery for up to 430 km of electric-only range (CLTC) and a massive 1,670 km combined. The headline-grabbing top trim is the Livis, which adds dual in-house Mach M100 chips (2,560 TOPS), four LiDAR units, 800V active suspension and electro-mechanical brakes. Final pricing lands at the June 23 launch, but expect it to sit well above the old L8's ~¥321,800 starting point.
Performance & Specs
The L8 is a range-extender electric vehicle: a Li Auto in-house 115 kW (about 154 hp) 1.5-litre turbo engine acts purely as a generator to charge the battery, while electric motors drive the wheels through a dual-motor all-wheel-drive layout. Pre-launch reports point to a combined output of around 420 kW (roughly 563 hp) — a useful jump over the previous L8's 330 kW (443 hp) — though Li Auto will confirm the final power and 0–100 km/h figures at the June 23 reveal. What's already clear is the efficiency story: the new 72.7 kWh battery delivers up to 430 km of electric range (CLTC), equivalent to 343 km on the stricter WLTC cycle, while the generator extends total range to about 1,670 km, with fuel use of roughly 6.2–6.3 L/100 km once the battery is depleted.
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | Range-extender (REV/EREV) |
|---|---|
| RANGE EXTENDER | 1.5L turbo, 115 kW (~154 hp) generator |
| SYSTEM POWER | ~420 kW (~563 hp), to be confirmed |
| DRIVETRAIN | Dual-motor AWD |
| BATTERY | 72.7 kWh (5C) |
| ELECTRIC RANGE | 430 km CLTC (343 km WLTC) |
| COMBINED RANGE | 1,670 km CLTC |
| FUEL USE | 6.2–6.3 L/100 km (depleted) |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 5,135 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,000 mm |
| Height | 1,800 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,045 mm |
| Seating | 5 (2+3) |
The new L8 is bigger in every direction. At 5,135 mm long on a 3,045 mm wheelbase — up 55 mm and 40 mm respectively over the old car — it grows into a genuinely large SUV, but the big news is the switch to a five-seat (2+3) layout. By ditching the third row, Li Auto frees up enormous second-row space and a deep 820-litre boot, pitching the L8 as a premium five-seat flagship rather than a people-carrier (and leaving the six-seat role to the L9). Curb weight rises to between 2,740 and 2,830 kg, and it rides on large 21- or 22-inch wheels. Expect Li Auto's trademark family-friendly touches — reclining rear seats, a refrigerator and a rear entertainment screen — throughout.
| LENGTH | 5,135 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 2,000 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,800 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 3,045 mm |
| CARGO VOLUME | 820 L |
| SEATING | 5 (2+3) |
Charging & Battery
The L8's new 72.7 kWh ternary (NMC) battery is a big step up from the old car's 52.3 kWh pack — a roughly 39% increase that nearly doubles electric-only range to 430 km. It supports 5C fast charging for quick top-ups, though Li Auto hasn't yet published an official 10–80% time for the new pack (expect details at the June 23 launch). As a range-extender, day-to-day driving can be done almost entirely on electricity, with the 1.5-litre generator engine only kicking in on longer trips — and when it does, you simply refuel at any petrol station, sidestepping any charging stops on a road trip. That combination is exactly why Li Auto's REV models have been so popular with Chinese families.
| BATTERY | 72.7 kWh ternary (NMC) |
|---|---|
| ELECTRIC RANGE | 430 km CLTC |
| FAST CHARGING | 5C (10-80% time TBA) |
| RANGE EXTENDER | 1.5L turbo generator + fuel tank |
Design & Interior
The new L8 adopts Li Auto's latest design language, sharing its clean, premium look with the bigger L9. There's a full-width front light bar, a smooth, aerodynamic body available in striking two-tone finishes, and a full-width connected LED tail-light strip across the rear with the Li Auto logo and an "L8 Livis" badge on the flagship. Inside, it's classic Li Auto luxury: a minimalist, screen-led dashboard, soft cream-and-black leather, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and a high centre console housing the refrigerator. The five-seat layout means second-row passengers get limousine-grade space, reclining comfort and their own climate controls and entertainment screen. It's built to feel like a lounge on wheels.
Technology & Features
Technology is where the Livis trim justifies its flagship status. Where the entry Ultra uses a single Mach M100 chip (1,280 TOPS) and one LiDAR, the Livis doubles up to two Mach M100 chips for 2,560 TOPS and adds three extra solid-state LiDARs — Li Auto's switch from NVIDIA to its own in-house silicon. Both run the latest VLA 2.0 assisted-driving system (shown on the central screen as "Li VLA 2.0 M100*2"), with the assisted-driving software included free for the life of the car. Seven 8-megapixel cameras round out the sensor suite, and the cabin keeps Li Auto's signature multi-screen setup with rear entertainment.
Safety & ADAS
The L8 Livis carries one of the most comprehensive sensor suites in its class: up to four LiDAR units, seven 8MP cameras and dual Mach M100 processors delivering 2,560 TOPS of compute for VLA 2.0 navigation-assisted driving and parking. The Livis also gains electro-mechanical braking (EMB) with a sub-100-millisecond response for sharper, more reliable stops, alongside the active suspension and rear-wheel steering.
| ADAS LEVEL | L2+ (VLA 2.0, up to 2,560 TOPS) |
|---|---|
| ADAS FEATURES | Navigation-assisted driving, up to 4 LiDAR, 7 cameras, EMB braking, auto parking |
Available Versions
| VERSION | COMPUTE | LIDAR | EV RANGE | COMBINED | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L8 Ultra | 1× M100 (1,280 TOPS) | 1× ATL-P | 430 km | 1,670 km | Steer-by-wire chassis, air suspension |
| L8 Livis | 2× M100 (2,560 TOPS) | 1 + 3 solid-state | 430 km | 1,670 km | 800V active suspension, EMB braking, flagship kit |
Pricing & Availability
The all-new Li Auto L8 launches in China on June 23, 2026, in two trims: Ultra and the flagship Livis. Official pricing wasn't confirmed at the time of writing, but with a much bigger battery, in-house chips and a flagship Livis chassis, it's expected to start meaningfully higher than the outgoing L8's ~¥321,800 (around $47,500) — Chinese media estimates point to roughly ¥360,000–410,000 (about $50,000–57,000), to be confirmed at launch. The L8 is a China-market model; we'll update with final prices once Li Auto announces them.
How It Compares
The L8 enters a brutally competitive large-SUV class. Its closest rival is the Huawei-backed AITO M8, which is hugely popular but offers less electric range, while the Lynk & Co 900 undercuts it on price with a slightly shorter EV range. The Denza N9 is a step pricier and a plug-in hybrid rather than a range-extender. The L8's trump cards are that class-leading 430 km of EV range, Li Auto's reputation for family comfort, and the Livis trim's genuinely cutting-edge 2,560 TOPS, four-LiDAR tech package. Its biggest challenge isn't the hardware — it's a tough Chinese market where, as reviewers note, buyers are increasingly price-sensitive.
- Class-leading 430 km EV range and 1,670 km combined
- Bigger 72.7 kWh battery and roomier five-seat layout
- Livis tech: dual M100 chips (2,560 TOPS), four LiDAR, EMB brakes
- Li Auto's signature family comfort and refrigerator
- Loses the old L8's six-seat flexibility
- Expected to be pricey in a value-focused market
- Final price, power and 0-100 confirmed only at the June 23 launch
The all-new Li Auto L8 is a bold reinvention. By switching to a five-seat layout, fitting a much bigger 72.7 kWh battery for a class-leading 430 km of electric range, and moving to its own Mach M100 silicon, Li Auto has turned the L8 into a serious tech and comfort flagship — especially in Livis form, with its 2,560 TOPS of compute, four LiDARs and 800V active suspension. The trade-offs are the loss of six-seat flexibility and a price expected to climb in an increasingly cost-conscious market. We'll know the full story when pricing drops at the June 23 launch, but on specification alone, the new L8 looks like one of the most advanced range-extender SUVs money can buy.
