No joke, this small interactive screen that Li Xiang once hyped to the skies is actually gone on the 2026 model!!!
The steering wheel has reverted to physical buttons, and that small screen, which was prone to accidental touches and whose displayed information was rather pointless, has completely disappeared. What replaces it is a purer driving grip.
Does this count as a return to form? Or rather, has Li Auto finally realized that when the driver is driving, they do not need to stare at the steering wheel to read lyrics?
In addition, the air-conditioning vents have changed. They are no longer the manual toggle style of the current model, but have been swapped for the automatic oscillating design used in the Li i6.
Whether this thing works well is another matter, but the whiff of cost control has drifted out. Since the i6 uses it, the L9 follows suit, supply chain unified—where did the money saved go?
The answer may be hidden under the chassis.
I stared at the spy photos for a long time, and the rear-wheel steering angle is just too eye-catching. Rear-wheel steering, this is a big killer feature.
What is the biggest pain point for current L9 owners? It is not that the TV is not big enough, nor that the fridge is not cold enough, but that this car is simply too large.
Making a U-turn in the underground garage of an old residential compound is simply a nightmare—you spin the steering wheel until sparks fly, and the rear end still has to scrape the wall.
Now, the 2026 L9 is finally going to add rear-wheel steering. This is not only for better handling, but also out of sheer necessity.
Look at the neighboring Aito M9, and then at the yet-to-be-launched Denza N9—which one is not armed to the teeth? If Li Auto keeps clinging to that old chassis, this battle cannot be fought.
It is said that the body length will be extended again this time, heading toward 5.3 meters. Without rear-wheel steering, this car would basically be a roadblock in the city. The benefits of the lengthening are obvious: rear-seat space will be even more exaggerated.
In terms of power, sources say it will adopt a self-developed three-electric system, and there is big news: the battery capacity of the extended-range version may reach more than 70 kWh, with pure electric range heading toward 400 kilometers.
An extended-range vehicle with 400 kilometers of pure electric range? Is this still an extended-range vehicle? This is simply a pure electric vehicle carrying a power bank.
Current extended-range vehicles can run 200 kilometers on pure electricity at most, and need to be charged every day.
If 400 kilometers can really be achieved, then urban commuting would basically bid farewell to gas stations, and even short intercity trips would not need to burn fuel. This move is quite ruthless, striking directly at users' range anxiety.
However, with a larger battery, vehicle weight will certainly soar. This places even greater demands on the chassis. The current L9's suspension has long been criticized by owners for the excess sway when going over bumps.
Although the new model is said to have optimized chassis tuning and added 5C ultra-fast charging, whether it can keep such a large battery under control still remains a question mark.
Let's talk about intelligence next. Although the spy photos do not clearly show the screens lit up, it is said that it will be equipped with the Qualcomm 8797 chip, and the intelligent driving chip will also be swapped for the self-developed M100. Stacking chip computing power is inevitable—after all, these days if the infotainment system is not smooth, it can get flamed onto the trending topics.
But what I care about more is the shape of that lidar. It is not very clear in the spy photos, but I hope it can be made more coordinated, and not like it is now, as if a tumor has grown on the roof.
With this facelift, Li Auto is clearly anxious.
The sales momentum of the Aito M9 is too fierce, pushing Li Auto into a corner. Previously, Li Auto dominated with refrigerators, TVs, and big sofas, but now rivals have not only learned that, but also added rear-wheel steering and stronger intelligent driving.
This facelift of the Li L9 is less an upgrade than a defensive battle.
It will be unveiled in April, and time is very tight. My advice is only three words: stay calm.
