GWM teases its Zeekr 8X-rivalling PHEV large SUV as Chinese luxury battleground between BYD Tang 9, MG IM LS9, and Leapmotor D16 emerges

GWM has teased its upcoming V9X luxury large SUV as Chinese carmakers lay the gauntlet down in the hotly contested market segment.

GWM’s offering is a big deal for the usually 4x4-focused brand, as it debuts a new platform and will serve as the flagship of the company’s luxury Wey arm.

So far, GWM has shown official camouflage pictures of the vehicle, but the new silhouette images tease the car’s light profile and boxy Range Rover-esque roofline which suggest a new design direction for GWM’s future products.

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The flagship V9X is a plug-in hybrid measuring over 5.3 metres long, and will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with at least dual electric motors. GWM is claiming a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.4 seconds, and an EV-mode driving range of up to 363km, although this will be to the more lenient CLTC measuring cycle.

The new GWM 'One' platform set to underpin the V9X is also designed to support multiple powertrain options - whether it’s plugless hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fully electric, or even hydrogen, and will have an 800-volt electrical architecture to support powerful electric motors and ultra-fast charging.

GWM has even earmarked the possibility of a diesel hybrid, in the same vein as Chery’s upcoming P3X ute which will also explore rare diesel hybrid tech, which could be a good fit for the Australian market.

The Chinese giant also says it will be able to keep costs relatively low for products developed on the One platform thanks to high parts commonality and lower assembly cost.

2026 GWM V9X teaser

The luxury five-plus-metre-long SUV space is becoming intensely fought over in China, although only BYD’s rugged Denza B8 is currently the only option in Australia.

BYD is also plotting a new flagship dubbed the Tang 9 in China, which it has had to delay due to its rivals beating it to market with impressive offerings.

The Wey V9X will need to do battle with the upcoming Zeekr 8X and 9X flagship plug-ins, while SAIC’s IM brand which is sold under the MG banner in Australia is plotting similar LS8 and LS9 large SUVs. Even Leapmotor has its eyes on this space, with its soon-to-launch D16 flagship.

2026 GWM V9X teaser

GWM’s Wey luxury sub-brand is already locked in for an Australian launch, with the Wey 80 people mover arriving in 2026, opening the door for the V9X and other plug-in hybrid SUVs from the marque.

It could be bad news for mainstream brands which currently offer three-row large SUVs, like Hyundai with its Palisade, Nissan with its Pathfinder and Mazda with its CX-90, which have thus far remained largely unchallenged by lower-cost Chinese players.

The luxury V9X is also not GWM’s only iron in the fire. The brand is also working on a new flagship to top its Tank range of off-roaders, which is rumored to use the company’s brand-new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine in a plug-in hybrid layout.

2026 GWM V9X teaser

Expect to learn more about GWM’s future plans, globally and locally after the Beijing Motor Show this April, which is incidentally also the launch window for the V9X in China.