Powering "performance luxury", Xingtu Liu Hening: To let the world see the progress of China's automotive technology

On April 24, 2026, the 19th Beijing International Automobile Exhibition was officially opened in the spotlight. With the theme of "leading the era, smart future", this auto show focuses on cutting-edge technologies such as intelligent driving, full-stack self-developed architecture, 800V high-voltage fast charging, and AI large model entry. During the auto show, AutoHome held in-depth exchanges with Liu Hening, executive deputy general manager of Xingtu Business Department and general manager of Xingtu Marketing Center, to focus on innovation and talk about the future of the industry. Liu Hening (right), Executive Deputy General Manager of Xingtu Business Department and General Manager of Xingtu Marketing Center at this Beijing Auto Show, Xingtu is one of the brands that have launched new cars and concept cars, including Xingtu EX7 (parameter | inquiry), ES7 GT, EX9, and concept car X-CONCEPT. Behind such an intensive product offensive is StarTour's thinking on the 3.0 era. At the end of 2025, StarTour released the 3.0 era strategy. According to Liu Hening, the brand will be adjusted at three levels in the new era: at the basic performance level, the pursuit of extreme performance luxury includes control, quality, etc.; at the driving experience level, the pursuit of intelligence truly serves people, so that technology can be perceived; at the emotional expression level, the pursuit of making cars become partners with stories and temperatures. Liu Hening said that in the 3.0 era, Xingtu will start a new journey of luxury in China and even in the world. At present, StarTour has the world's first aviation-grade EMB line control, which can achieve a 90-millisecond response and 33-meter braking. In terms of intelligence, the Falcon 700 intelligent assisted driving system equipped with the Xingtu brand has been the first to be launched in Germany and has received positive feedback overseas. In addition, StarTour plans to continue to develop the label of “performance luxury”. In the future, they will build a real first-class circuit in China to verify their technology and introduce the system into China. At the same time, the brand will also step into Asia Le Mans, Europe Le Mans, and finally impact the WEC World Automotive Endurance Championship, so that the world can see the progress of Chinese automotive technology. Liu Hening revealed that in 2026, in addition to the already listed Xingtu EX7, the pace of new cars following Xingtu will also be very fast. ES MY, EX6 and other models will be listed one after another during the year. In addition, the brand plans to hold events such as brand nights and track experience camps throughout the year to continuously create a competition culture and strengthen its practice in the performance luxury field. The following is the original text of the exchange (compiled by Car House): Car House: First, please tell us what are the highlights of this Beijing Auto Show Star Road? Liu Hening: This Xingtu booth can be said to be one of the most popular booths for launching new cars and concept cars. Key models are the Xingtu EX7, ES7 GT, EX9, and the concept car X-CONCEPT. Let's start with the X-CONCEPT concept. It is based on a forward-looking understanding of the future of mobility, abandoning the inherent design concept and re-measuring the design with the feeling of a future aircraft. The cockpit layout takes into account one person alone, two people traveling together, and three people talking. The body has an integrated streamlined design, and the front and rear through-type wind tunnel structure creates a strong sense of future. The interior uses a range of Chinese intangible techniques, such as bamboo thread weaving, with a delicate texture that is not comparable to plastic or other materials. There was also a lot of use of glazed ornaments. Combined with the lights, it conveyed not an industrial sense of cold, but a sense of roundness and nobility. The second heavy model is the EX9. It is dynamic, exuberant and relaxed, redefining the luxury experience in general. The safety level adopts the "Star Fortress" technology, and the key parts use 2400 MPa thermoformed steel; the power level is equipped with the most advanced seventh-generation 2.0T engine of Xingtu, with a thermal efficiency of 45.95%, and adopts an 800V hybrid architecture; the control level adopts dual-cavity air suspension, magnetorheological suspension, rear wheel steering, etc., which brings a new ship control experience. The third is the currently available Xingtu EX7. We define it as an "onshore special aircraft", which is not only a luxury five-seat SUV, but also a product of Yue Yue Jia. It launched the world's first aviation-grade EMB line control system with a response time of only 90 milliseconds, which is unmatched by traditional hydraulic systems. At the same time, it is equipped with flying fish chassis 3.0, golden range extension and other technologies. At the intelligent level, the whole system is equipped with the Falcon 700 assisted driving system. Through more than 40 million kilometers of L4 level data recharge training, AI can understand the way and go the right way. The smart capsule adopts AI Lingshi smart capsule 2.0, which cooperates with the Carmind Pro agent and Xiaoqi Changchun, and has excellent intelligent perception. In terms of body structure, high-strength steel and aluminum account for 88%, 2GPa thermoformed steel is used for key parts, the battery does not fire or spontaneously ignite, and the high-voltage power is cut off within 2 milliseconds after the collision, which is IP68 waterproof. And finally, the ES7 GT. We call it Zhimei Sports Coupe, which not only retains the comfort of the sedan, but also surpasses the spatial performance of the sedan. Hybrid models have a comprehensive range of more than 1,700 kilometers, which is a good solution for young people's travel anxiety. In addition, there are EX vision and other models in the booth, so everyone is welcome to visit. Car House: At the end of last year, Xingtu released the brand 3.0 era strategy. What do you think are the new changes compared to the 3.0 era? Liu Hening: The 3.0 era has condensed Xingtu's understanding of the present and the future, and has advanced from three dimensions: First, the basic performance level of the vehicle, and the pursuit of ultimate performance luxury. We will generally adopt more solid designs, such as more extreme control and more reliable quality. The real luxury car must return to the essence of the car and deepen its cultivation in this regard. Second, the driving experience level, so that intelligence really serves people, so that technology can be perceived, so that every trip has a temperature. Third, the emotional expression level caters to the needs of youth and digitalization, from design to experience, making the car a partner with story and temperature. Around these three systems, from new technologies, new designs, new products to new journeys, from the core to extension, from products to ecology, complete remodeling. In the 3.0 era, Xingtu will start a new journey of luxury in China and even in the world. Car House: Chery recently partnered with Le Mans. As a high-end brand of Chery Automobile Group, what role does Xingtu play in the cooperation? What are your plans for the future? Liu Hening: On April 9 this year, Chery officially signed a contract with Le Mans in Paris, marking the first time that a Chinese automobile brand has deeply cooperated with the world's top racing events with a century of history. This is highly matched with the technology pursuit of the Xingtu brand. Our plan is to first build a true Level 1 circuit in China to validate our technology and bring racing to China. At the same time, we will step into Asia Le Mans, Europe Le Mans, and finally impact the WEC World Automotive Endurance Championship, so that the world can see the progress of Chinese automotive technology. Car House: The circuit embodies traditional capabilities, but in the era of intelligence, what is the future planning of Starway? Liu Hening: In the 3.0 era, Xingtu should be an innovator of luxury performance. Let new technologies go beyond parameter stacking, new designs go beyond the perceptual imagination, and new products go beyond the boundaries of the scene. Our world premiere aviation-grade EMB line control with industry 001 certificates for 90ms response and 33m braking. In terms of intelligence, the Falcon 700 intelligent assisted driving system not only won four consecutive wins in the China Intelligent Driving Competition, but also took the lead in launching in Germany, with positive feedback from overseas. Some users have tested it against Tesla, at least partially. Its bottom layer adopts a one-stage end-to-end large model. Through more than 40 million kilometers of L4-level data recharge training, the algorithm is quickly tuned to achieve a breakthrough in luxury perception and smooth experience. In the future, Xingtu will use "performance luxury, passionate dream" as the background, in the era of smart mobility, so that Chinese cars have a solid position in the world. Car House: One-third of the year 2026 has passed, what are the important nodes on the way? Liu Hening: First of all, the Xingtu EX7 has been launched. It is the first work of the 3.0 era, which perfectly interprets the concept of performance luxury. It uses 532 space ratio, the first aviation-grade EMB, and the whole system is equipped with six-piston calipers as standard - what we want is not only a good feeling at the beginning, but a real human car with both home and business properties. Secondly, the theme of this auto show is "performance luxury, passionate dream", which brings EX vision, EX9, ES7 GT and other concept models, reflecting the performance luxury consideration for different needs. The booth uses interstellar aesthetics as the core communication language. The pace of follow-up new cars is very fast, and the next meeting will be ES MY, as well as EX6 and other models. Throughout the year, we plan to hold brand nights, track experience camps, etc., to create an event culture and strengthen our practice in the field of performance luxury. Car House: It seems that StarTour has a lot to pay attention to this year, including intelligentization, racing events, and new products. Liu Hening: Another point is that we have made a design layout based on domestic and foreign data in terms of L4 level autonomous driving, and will soon try to commercialize it domestically and even internationally. This year we have Robotaxi, and the future commercialization will be bigger and faster.