By FREDA LEWIS-STEMPEL, MOTORING REPORTER
A new Chinese car brand has updated its first car in the UK just in time for a new year set of wheels - and despite looking like a Tesla, it will be much cheaper.
Xpeng - the AI and Smart Technology focused Chinese car maker - has done a 'comprehensive upgrade' of its G6 EV - a car that went on sale in Britain in February.
Showing the kind of speed at which Chinese car manufacturers not only enter the market and roll out new product but also update and improve it, the G6 update comes only 10 months after it went on sale.
Many car buyers will not even have heard of the new Chinese entrant or their first UK model, the G6 SUV, in that time.
The upgrade isn't small either - it's across performance, design, technology and efficiency. As such, XPeng is calling it the 'new' G6 and the 'latest model' to launch in the UK.
The headline upgrade to the new G6 is that it can now charge 10 to 80 per cent in just 12 minutes thanks to new battery tech - the kind of battery advancements that Chinese auto expansion in the UK always promised.
So, what should you expect from this sub-£40k Tesla Model Y rival?
The new G6: Xpeng - the AI and Smart Technology focused Chinese car maker - has done a 'comprehensive upgrade' of its G6 EV - a car that went on sale in Britain in February
First thing to note is something that hasn't changed: the price.
Impressively, despite the number of improvements to the 'old' G6, the price remains the same.
The updated G6 will be available to order from February 2026, with prices starting from £39,990. This is the same as before and £2,000 less than the entry-level Tesla Model Y - the new Tesla Model Y Standard starts at £41,990.
The new G6 RWD Standard Range model comes with a single 292bhp motor – 22bhp more than before and an increased range of 292 miles, up from 270, thanks to a larger battery.
Oddly, the Long Range has a smaller battery, down from 87.5kWh to 80.8kWh, so the range has fallen from 354 miles to 326 miles.
The headline upgrade to the new G6 is that it can now charge 10-80% in just 12 minutes thanks to new battery tech - the kind of battery advancements that Chinese auto expansion in the UK always promised
Exterior updates: Differences include subtle styling tweaks to the exterior, mainly a new full-width Starlight front lightbar, body colour wheel arches, a repositioned Xpeng logo, and a revised rear spoiler and diffuser
A big change is that the RWD Long Range and AWD Performance models now enter the digital rear-view mirror world, with upgraded 9-inch camera-mirror
The updated G6 will be available to order from February 2026, with prices starting from £39,990. This is the same as before and £2,000 less than the entry-level Tesla Model Y (pictured) - the new Tesla Model Y Standard starts at £41,990
Exterior
Differences include subtle styling tweaks to the exterior, mainly a new full-width Starlight front lightbar, body colour wheel arches, a repositioned Xpeng logo, and a revised rear spoiler and diffuser. If you want it there's a new Stellar Purple colour too.
Interior
Interior changes include a wood-grain dash with suede-effect ceiling material, redesigned speaker covers, and ambient lighting in the RWD Long Range and AWD Performance versions.
These versions also get new 50W wireless smartphone charging pads - two of them. There's a fresh Dark Grey interior colour theme as well.
A big change is that the RWD Long Range and AWD Performance models now enter the digital rear-view mirror world, with upgraded 9-inch camera-mirror. This makes it similar to the Polestar 4 - the first car in the UK to have a digital rear-view mirror.
Front seats are now heated and ventilated and offer massage function, and the rear seats continue to recline to 12 levels.
Tech-wise the XPeng XOS cockpit system brings faster response times, smarter voice recognition and the enhanced 'Hey XPeng' voice assistant now offers intelligent recommendations across four zones of the cabin.
Safety
XPeng says that safety is its priority, and that the G6 battery features 'bulletproof-level protection with a 4-3-4 structural safety framework and ballistic-grade armour'.
As well as sounding like something out of Zero Dark Thirty, XPeng states that it makes the battery capable of withstanding extreme conditions, including 1,000°C heat and 80 tons of side crush pressure, producing a 30 per cent improvement in overall durability.
The G6's XPilot Assist system continues to include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Centring Control (LCC), Enhanced AutoParking Assist, Remote Parking Assist with phone and key, Surrounding Video System, and seven airbags with advanced collision prevention systems across forward, side, and rear scenarios.
The G6 can now deliver charging speeds with a peak power of 451kW. For comparison, the new Porsche Cayenne EV charges to 400kW max and that's seen as industry-leading and the Tesla Model Y peaks at 250kW
The G6's new charging speeds - battery developments
The new Xpeng G6 has a new state-of-the-art 'Next-Gen 5C' 80.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.
It's made from an advanced cell chemistry which eliminates precious metals like cobalt, nickel and manganese.
This makes the battery more sustainable than before - and more so than many other EV batteries on the market - without compromising performance.
And the Xpeng's 800V High-Voltage Platform delivers charging speeds with a peak power of 451kW.
For comparison, the new Porsche Cayenne EV charges to 400kW max and that's seen as industry-leading and the Tesla Model Y peaks at 250kW.
You can plug in and charge the G6 potentially from 10 to 80 per cent in just 12 minutes, which gives you the fastest charging time of any EV in its segment.
XPeng adds that battery lifespan is increased by 30 per cent.
XPeng says 'it is a technology company at heart' and wants to use technology to transform the future of mobility – from road EVs to ones that fly. It's one of the new Chinese car makers you'll soon see everywhere
Xpeng was founded in 2014 as a smart driving technology company.
Its founders wanted to redefine the driving experience and use artificial intelligence to craft its EVs.
Originally, He Xiaopeng, a self-made tech trailblazer, built UCWeb China's most popular mobile browser. He then sold it in 2014 to Alibaba for $4.3billion before pivoting to automotive after being inspired by Tesla and sustainable transport.
In 2017, Xpeng revealed its first model, the Xpeng G3, an electric SUV, with deliveries commencing in 2018. Then in 2020 it launched the P7, which made headlines for its AI driving mode.
XPeng says 'it is a technology company at heart' and wants to use technology to transform the future of mobility – from road EVs to ones that fly. In this way it is fully embracing its technology origins, not trying to shy away or downplay them.
This year Xpeng officially launched in the UK with the G6 all-electric coupe SUV which costs from £39,990. And now it's been revamped.
