Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun discussed the development of the Pengcheng N90 Exploration Edition, noting that the project began four years ago. The concept emerged following the market success of the Li Auto L9 in September 2022, prompting Xiaomi to explore the idea of a mobile living space rather than a standard SUV.
The design philosophy focused on creating a flat floor and a boxy interior layout to maximize usable space. Unlike traditional SUVs with multi-level floors that restrict seat movement, the N90 utilizes sliding rails to allow for flexible seating arrangements, including a face-to-face configuration for social activities.
To address the issue of limited interior height, which is typically around 1.3 meters, Xiaomi integrated an electric pop-up roof. This design allows adults to stand inside the vehicle. The company emphasized that this is a native feature rather than an aftermarket roof tent, offering integrated climate control, lighting, and charging ports.
The vehicle underwent comprehensive safety testing, including rollover simulations, to meet regulatory standards. The pop-up mechanism takes approximately 30 seconds to deploy. Despite the added functionality, the vehicle's height increased by only 100 millimeters, maintaining its overall accessibility and road clearance.
