Fledgling Chinese luxury auto brand Zeekr is launching its first plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and it has made some heady claims about this new flagship SUV.
The Zeekr 9X has been “engineered to embody the luxury of a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, performance of a Porsche Cayenne, and all-terrain capability of a Range Rover“, according to the Geely-owned brand.
After revealing the 9X’s exterior in April, Zeekr has now released more details and shown off its interior ahead of first customer deliveries commencing in China this quarter.
Featuring Zeekr’s new SEAS architecture, the 9X uses a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine delivering 205kW of peak power, mated with three tri-silicon carbide-powered electric motors, for total peak power of 1030kW.
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Zeekr claims the 9X can do the 0-100km/h dash in just 3.1 seconds, which would make it one of the world’s quickest SUVs.
It uses a 70kWh battery, the largest yet in a hybrid SUV, and features a 900V electrical system.
That battery, sourced from CATL, is much larger than many other hybrid SUVs, and larger than many electric vehicle (EV) batteries too.
Claimed electric-only range, depending on the variant, is up to 380km on the CLTC cycle.
Zeekr says the battery can be charged from 20 to 80 per cent in as little as nine minutes, with a 10-80 per cent charge taking as little as 10.3 minutes; like many PHEVs, the engine can also be used to charge the battery.
The brand also claims the new combustion engine, its first and designed specifically for “high-performance electric hybrids”, has thermal efficiency of over 46 per cent.
Zeekr says the 9X is intended to offer “EV-era” technology and “IC-era luxury and uncompromised performance”.
It also promises “best-in-class low-battery performance” and “EV-like smoothness”, as well as fast-charging capability and instant responsiveness.
It rides on dual-chamber air suspension, allowing for maximum ground clearance of 288mm, and features dual-valve continuously controlled damping and a 48V active stabiliser bar – the latter claimed to be a first for a Chinese brand.
The 9X has selectable comfort, eco and sport drive modes, plus seven additional terrain modes: grass, snow, deep snow, mud, sand, rocks and mountain roads.
There’s a suite of active safety and driver assist technology, powered by five LiDAR units, five 4D millimetre-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, 13 high-definition cameras and two wading cameras. Zeekr says the 9X supports Level 3 autonomous driving capability.
The Chinese brand displayed the 9X with a two-tone interior, featuring prominent wood inlays.
There’s a large, landscape-oriented infotainment touchscreen, under which sits a row of physical buttons, as well as a neatly integrated digital instrument cluster.
There’s a rotary dial on the centre console next to some more switches and a pair of wireless phone charging pads, with the gear shifter mounted up on the column.
In a Mercedes-Benz-like touch, all of the front power seat controls are on the doors.
Second-row occupants sit in a pair of captain’s chairs, and can view a TV screen that comes down from the roof.
The boot is accessed via a clamshell tailgate.
The Zeekr 9X measures a sizeable 5239mm long, 2029mm wide, 1819mm tall and rides a 3169mm wheelbase, making it larger than a Toyota LandCruiser.
While its exterior features ample brightwork, including a bold chrome grille and Maybach-like 22-inch mirror-finish forged wheels, Zeekr previewed a blacked-out Nightshade edition.
Zeekr Australia has confirmed a third SUV will join its local lineup in 2026, following the pioneering Zeekr X small electric SUV and the 7X mid-size electric SUV, though it hasn’t confirmed which model.
Thus far, the only other SUV in Zeekr’s global portfolio is the 9X, however, another PHEV SUV is expected to be launched soon in China.
“When introducing a new model to Australia in 2026, we need to look at the powertrain and segment,” Zeekr global product marketing director Tony Zhou told CarExpertearlier this month.
“We have a compact SUV, C/D segment [mid-size] SUV, and MPV [the Zeekr 009 electric people mover]. What will be next… is under discussion. We have BEV, big SUV, small SUV, hatchbacks, hybrids and PHEVs in our pocket.”
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