Zeekr 9X Reviews

Chinese cars have entered “uncharted territory”, according to Vice President of Geely Group Li Chuanhai.Chuanhai explained that as Chinese automakers became global entities, they could no longer rely on challenging the status quo of so-called legacy brands, but would have to innovate on their own if they want to move the industry forward.“Franky, the Chinese automotive industry has reached its current position by standing on the shoulders of giants in the century-old automotive industry,” he said.“But now that we’re taking the lead, we have entered uncharted territory. How do we innovate in uncharted territory? I think our logic for innovation needs to change."He said Geely was well positioned to provide multiple power options, such as as petrol, hybrid and EV, across many markets, but there would still be the need to innovate further in the future.“Geely adheres to its energy diversification strategy. Our Thor hybrid, SEA EV, i-HEV, and green methanol developed over 20 years have created a complete ecosystem covering pure electric, hybrid, range extender, methanol, and charging/battery swapping. We’ve successfully explored every path to provide global users with more choices,” he said.Chuanhai outlined some investments Geely was making including collaborations with “more than 50 universities on basic research”. He said this “may not yield immediate returns” for the group, but that innovation required “adequate resource investment, effective ecosystem collaboration, and sufficient talent density”.Chuanhai earmarked the success of its premium Zeekr arm as evidence Geely had moved beyond its challenger status.“We don't have the time to build the brand story that century-old established brands have accumulated over time,” he said.“New energy and intelligent technologies have brought us opportunities for brand advancement. However, we also believe that the foundation for brand advancement lies in safety, chassis and powertrain—areas that best reflect our core professional capabilities."He said the brand is aiming for Volvo’s ultimate safety, Lotus’ ultimate handling and Horse Powertrain’s ultimate performance.He said the 750,000 units Zeekr has delivered in its short existence have an average selling price of more than the equivalent of $62,000, comparatively very high for a Chinese brand, with the national average being a little over half that ($35,000).“The essence of Chinese automotive globalisation is not about low prices and high volume, but about being rooted in technology and driven by brands, ultimately moving from simply selling cars to defining the future of automobiles,” he said.“We hope that Geely's experience can serve as a model for Chinese automakers going global, and we believe that China's automotive industry is fully capable of winning respect and establishing a firm foothold in the world.”Next for Geely in Australia will be its EX2 fully electric hatchback, which will be followed by the Emgrand EM-i plug-in hybrid sedan. Zeekr will launch its flagship 9X plug-in hybrid large SUV before the end of the year, alongside the 7GT fully-electric performance wagon.In 2027, the much-hyped 8X large five-seat hybrid SUV will arrive, with Geely also plotting a yet-to-be confirmed three-row hybrid SUV offering.

The Zeekr 7X just got better in Australia following an over-the-air (OTA) update.The OTA upgrades include revamped software and increased functionality for the electric mid-size SUV.It now comes with remote smart parking assist, meaning the vehicle can be moved forwards or backwards through a smartphone, similar to the 'Summon' feature found on Tesla cars.This is only available for Apple smartphone users.The upgrades for iPhone users continues with the addition of digital key functionality. This enables the car to be accessed using an iPhone, removing the need for a conventional physical key or fob. There have also been substantial improvements to the Apple CarPlay system. It runs more smoothly and has improvements to navigation, phone connectivity and entertainment functions. Zeekr further announced adjustments to in-car volume levels for indicator and other notification and alert sounds.The update will be automatically applied to all 7X vehicles.“Our 7X customers are gaining new features that make their vehicle even smarter, easier to live with and more enjoyable to drive,” Zeekr Australia Managing Director Frank Li said. The 7X starts from $57,900 (before on-road costs), with prices rising up to $75,900 for the range-topping special edition Black variant.It has surged up the sales charts since it went on sale towards the end of last year, and will break through the 3000-sale barrier for 2026 imminently. This makes it one of the best-selling EVs in Australia, but it still trails the Model Y and the BYD Sealion 7 by a significant margin.The Model Y does not boast either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, with Tesla’s SUV using its own software to manage communication and navigation.The 7X is Zeekr's most successful model in Australia to date, but the Geely sub-brand is plotting the introduction of several new models by the end of 2027.This includes the much-anticipated 7GT wagon as well as the 8X and 9X luxury large SUVs.

Vice President of Zeekr Group Mars Chen explained what the Chinese luxury brand’s ultimate objective is.Some of its Chinese rivals frequently cite the huge and lucrative US market as the ultimate aspiration, Zeekr’s goal is somehow both more subtle and loftier at the same time.“We are not a ‘real’ luxury brand yet, right?” Chen said. “We’re still only five years old.”“I think it’s to be the top premium choice, with or without a battery,” he said.“In the end, it’s if people don’t mention whether it’s an EV or it’s a hybrid. You need a nice, expensive, fancy car? Zeekr is a brand you absolutely must check. It’s one you cannot avoid.”Chen wasn’t so keen on factoring the US into Zeekr’s immediate plans for the future."With the US market, if you take out pick-ups, then the passenger car market is not that big. It is a big cake, but still, without that cake we’d like to make a very nice meal,” said Chen.Chen said the brand was discussing the potential of a ute or pick-up truck to add to Zeekr’s expanding range of headline-grabbing models.Interestingly one factor which the brand was considering is how tightly contested the segment was becoming, with seemingly every Chinese automaker scrabbling to release a “box-style” hybrid off-roader.Chen said a potential for a ute or US-style pick-up truck is just a discussion for now.“We want to re-define every single segment. Once we identify the segment, Zeekr will check how disruptive we can be if we enter. We have the curiosity to do it, but it’s not a concrete thing.”“If we cannot create enough differentiation, of course we won’t just follow or replicate ,” he said.Chen said Zeekr’s strategy is to focus on just a few consolidated models, rather than cars that are “customised just for one country. Even just China”.“If we want to be in that segment, we have to be a global brand.”Zeekr’s model range as it stands is limited to the X small SUV, 009 People Mover, 7X mid-size SUV, 007 and 7GT sedan and wagon pair, as well as the incoming 8X large SUV and 9X flagship.For the Australian market, the brand has shot from relative obscurity in its first year on the market to a front runner in the EV space, thanks to the arrival of its extremely competitive 7X mid-sizer.The model has gone on to become the fourth-best-selling electric vehicle in the country, racking up 973 units to the end of April, trailing only the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7 and Geely EX5 in that order.The 9X and 8X large SUVs which are set to follow in the next 12 months will shift the brand to plug-in hybrid territory and have already created quite some hype in the market, despite asking prices looking like they’ll start well and truly in premium territory.

Three months with the 2026 Zeekr 7X RWD have come and gone at an alarming rate.But I’ve immensely enjoyed my time with the fully electric mid-size SUV, which impresses on so many fronts.The 7X is so impressive, in fact, that it was recently awarded CarsGuide Car of the Year 2026 – Best Medium SUV Under $60K, which you can read more about here.In the first two instalments of this three-part long-term review, I covered a lot of the reasons why the 7X has been so successful since its Australian arrival last year.In the first edition I detailed its keen pricing, high specification and strong powertrain and efficiency, while the second saw me deep-dive its fetching design and genuine practicality. You can check out both in the links above.As promised, this third and final look at the 7X will be headlined by drive impressions and overall verdict.So, how does the Chinese newcomer stack up behind the wheel? Let’s find out!From the moment I picked up the ‘keys’ to the 7X RWD I was struck by how it could easily be mistaken for a European car, and not just design wise.Nearly every Chinese-branded car I’ve driven to date has been underwhelming to drive, but the 7X shows how far these marques have come in such a short period of time.In some instances these carmakers have started to catch up with the rest of the world.It no doubt helps that Zeekr can tap into the expertise of its Geely Group parent company, which also owns Sweden’s Volvo and England’s Lotus.Point being, there is a legacy element that Zeekr can make the most of, and it certainly has with the 7X.Yes, the 7X RWD on test here still delivers a relatively soft ride – which is a Chinese-brand signature as passenger comfort is front of mind – but it does so in a relatively controlled manner.The RWD goes without the air springs and adaptive dampers of its Performance sibling, yet its balance will satisfy most, with small bumps dealt with aplomb.It can become unsettled over larger imperfections, but it is more composed than its more expensive Polestar 4 cousin – and it is arguably half European!Handling-wise, the 7X separates itself from the Chinese-brand pack with stronger body control when turning into a corner at low or high speed.Being a high-riding SUV, though, physics cannot be denied, so there is some roll when tipping in the 7X, but the beauty of the RWD variant is its rear-wheel-drive dynamics.Being pushed out of a corner rather than pulled is a nicer sensation, as is oversteer in general.When it comes to the 7X’s electric power steering, it has three settings, with Comfort feeling too dead off-centre for my liking. Standard strikes the best balance when it comes to feedback, while Sport is too heavy for regular low-speed use.That said, the 7X still isn’t the most engaging model to drive in its segment, as that honour still belongs to the facelifted Tesla Model Y, which offers quicker steering and even stronger body control.Straight-line performance is another 7X RWD strong suit, with its single, rear-mounted electric motor delivering a relative high 310kW of power and a more modest 440Nm of torque.This enables a brisk 0-100km/h acceleration time of six seconds flat, which can be achieved when putting its Acceleration mode into Sport.The Standard setting is better balanced with energy consumption, so that is my pick, but you also have a Comfort option that dials down the performance too much for my liking, although it may please your passengers the most.There are two settings for the 7X’s regenerative braking, with Standard akin to engine braking in an internal-combustion model, while Sport has a noticeably higher level of deceleration, but it is still not strong enough in my books.A one-pedal drive mode is a separate option for bringing the 7X to a complete stop without the use of its actual brake pedal, but I found myself regularly using my left foot because the regenerative braking was not slowing things down quickly enough – even with some serious thought put into it.When it comes to noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels, the 7X benefits from being a fully electric vehicle with near-silent operation.That said, some wind noise over the side mirrors can penetrate the cabin at highway speeds, but it can be drowned out by the RWD's excellent 10-speaker sound system.Advanced driver-assist safety systems rightly cop a lot of flack these days for being poorly tuned and obtrusive in many instances, but the 7X’s overall package is one of the better ones.The driver attention alert springs into action when required, but I personally find it to be distracting in itself, although the good news is that when you turn it off it stays off.It is a similar story with the intermittent but mostly inaccurate drowsiness alert.With those two features turned off, the only intermittent challenge is the emergency lane keeping, which is occasionally overly cautious, providing steering-wheel resistance when you try and make what it deems to be an unsafe manoeuvre – but it can be physically overpowered.The forward collision warning is also a little too sensitive for my liking, but it’s not necessarily wrong when it does spring into action, if you get what I mean.As for the less exciting stuff, the 7X is a relative breeze to park, with a lot of the credit going to its clear, detailed surround-view camera, which has a handy steering-wheel shortcut button, which is seldom seen.In my third and final month with the 7X RWD my average energy consumption was 15.6kWh/100km over 655km of driving, which was a fairly even combination of city and highway trips.This compares to the 15.2kWh/100km and 15.9kWh/100km that I achieved in months one and two, respectively, all of which combine to 15.6kWh/100km over a total distance driven of 2383km.Given the 7X RWD’s useable battery capacity of 71kWh, that equals a real-world driving range of 455km, which again is very close to its WLTP claim of 480km – that’s a big win. Acquired: January 21, 2025Distance travelled this month: 655kmOdometer: 5415kmAverage energy consumption this month: 15.6kWh/100km

Zeekr has made quite a name for itself for its range of aggressively priced premium performance SUVs.The 7X and upcoming 8X and 9X have generated quite a lot of hype. It seems though, that this Chinese brand has more to prove. It doesn’t just want to undercut established premium brands on the SUV front, it wants to appeal to rusted-on enthusiasts with its upcoming fully electric 7GT wagon.That’s right, a brand-new sporty station wagon designed to take aim at the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi S5 in 2026.Does this Euro-flavoured Chinese wagon have what it takes to impress? We briefly drove one in China to find out.First things first, what do we know about the 7GT for Australia?For one, it’s been locked-in judging by recent comments from the Australian division's boss, Frank Li. He said it was difficult to tell what order the brand’s range of cars will arrive, but with the 9X flagship SUV due before the end of 2026, it seems likely we’ll see the 7GT either very late in 2026, or early 2027.Interestingly, the 7GT (known as the 007GT in China) has a sedan variant as well (simply the 007 in its home market) although the brand hasn't said much about it, suggesting it will be a wagon-only offering in Australia.As for the price? The 7GT starts from the equivalent of around A$42,000 and tops out at around A$52,000 in China, suggesting a range of around A$55,000 - $70,000 by the time the car lands in Australia.Price wise, this could put it in a similar league to mainstream wagon offerings like the Skoda Octavia (from $66,000), Subaru WRX (from $58,490) and Cupra Leon (from $69,990).Like the 7X SUV which came before it, it will be an upgrade on those mainstream rivals by offering fully electric power with significant driving range, while also significantly undercutting premium wagons like the BMW 3 Series (from $98,800), Audi A5 (from $92,900) and Genesis G70 (from $80,265).It is unclear whether the 7X will be offered in a single high-performance specification or if Zeekr will also offer an entry-level price-leading variant.The powertrain choices in China include a rear-wheel-drive version (still offering a whopping 370kW/545Nm and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.8 seconds) or an all-wheel drive with 585kW/812Nm and 0-100km/h sprint in just 2.85 seconds (faster than a Porsche Taycan Turbo).The entry-level version of the 7GT is powered by a 75kWh battery pack offering up to 702km of driving range, with a larger 103kWh battery pack offering up to 880km of driving range (both driving ranges calculated to the more lenient CLTC measuring standard).With a 900-volt electrical architecture, the 7GT can charge ultra fast, 10 to 80 per cent in as low as 10 minutes on a compatible DC charger, according to the brand.Penned in Europe at Geely’s facilities in Gothenburg, Sweden, the 7GT gets European proportions with a split spoiler topping off the roof, and a ducktail shaping the boot line. Sadly, Australian Design Rules will prohibit the character-enhancing animated DRL clusters above the headlight strip, as is also the case for the 7X.Sitting in the 7GT and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were sitting in a Volvo or a Polestar - two other Geely-owned brands. The commitment to interior materials and cabin ergonomics has always put Zeekr a cut above its Chinese contemporaries, doubly so in the 7GT which sits nice and low and sports a rising console platform, which culminates in a large but not excessive central touchscreen.There’s even a control dial and a couple of shortcut buttons below, which can’t be said for a lot of this car’s Chinese rivals.Space is good in both the front and rear seats for me at 182cm tall, and the 7GT also has a surprisingly large boot despite its coupe-looking roofline.We only had a chance to briefly drive the 7GT on a small test circuit in a car park in China, which consisted of a 0-100km/h sprint, brake test, and a moose-test style slalom, however, I’ve also driven this car’s sedan version, the 007, on Geely’s actual racing track in Ningbo, which gave a bit more insight into its performance and limitations.Quite predictably, it’s blisteringly fast, with the kind of silent, brutal acceleration anybody who has driven a Tesla will be familiar with.As soon as you go to turn a corner though, the Euro flavour for the Zeekr again helps to set it apart. The steering in the 7GT feels much more natural, like something you’d experience in a Volvo or Polestar as opposed to the lifeless or overly electrified feeling you get from some otherwise-good EVs.Judging the suspension is difficult as the drive was on curated and perfectly flat tarmac surfaces, but riding lower than its SUV siblings, the 7GT feels comparatively slick when attacking corners and chicanes.Perhaps the biggest issue facing anything electric is weight, and while the 7GT might hide it well at commuter pace, the track sessions in the 007 were frequently slowed down after only a handful of laps to manage heat in the brakes. This is worth noting if you’re thinking about a family car that also makes short work of more expensive combustion cars at a track day.

The Zeekr 9X will be Australia’s first ultra-luxury car from China, but will it find an audience?That’s the question I’m asking myself at the brief Chinese preview drive of the monster three-row large SUV that will top the brand’s line-up in Australia later this year.It looks like it has the panache of a Rolls Royce Cullinan or Bentley Bentayga, but on a significantly tighter budget, and with a much more modern approach to what powers it.I'm keen to learn if these are ingredients for success or perhaps a bridge too far for an ambitious luxury brand with only five years of history.First, where will it sit in the hierarchy of Australian luxury SUVs?At a whopping 5239mm long and with a wheelbase of more than three meters, the 9X is an imposing beast of a car, something rammed home by its expansive bodywork, huge chrome grille and boxy roofline.It also has three rows of seating, putting it up against the Audi Q7 ($108,815) at one end of the price spectrum, or the full-size Range Rover (which you need to spend at least $321,000 to get three rows of seats) at the other.Of course, its enormity and grandiose styling would have Zeekr wanting you to think it’s more akin to something like the Bentley Bentayga (from a cool $412,600) or Rolls Royce Cullinian, which will leave you little change from a million dollars.The 9X, meanwhile, starts from the equivalent of A$95,400 in its Chinese home market, suggesting a starting price a bit over $100,000, perhaps even north of $120,000 by the time it lands locally.Zeekr also takes the 9X in a completely different direction from its aforementioned segment rivals, which are powered by everything from 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesels to 6.7-litre V12s, instead offering a dual- or tri-motor plug-in hybrid system, backed by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and a massive battery pack.The result is either 660kW/935Nm of combined power for the base two variants, or 1030kW/1410Nm for the top-spec car, as well as between 300 and 380km of fully electric driving range without even needing the engine.The all important 0-100km/h sprint time? As low as 3.1 seconds. Not bad for a three-tonne SUV.Like I said in my review of its smaller Zeekr 8X sibling, it’s just so much car, even at more than $100k.Every version of the 9X offered in China gets air suspension and a 900-volt architecture, allowing the battery to be charged in nine minutes on a fast enough DC pylon.Every version is clad in lavish full Nappa leather trim and there’s even active noise cancellation.Inside feels impressive, too. The 9X gets a different cabin layout and even a unique steering wheel from the rest of the Zeekr range, befitting its flagship role.Space is gratuitous in all three seating rows, with the third row perhaps surprising me the most. Having spent a decent amount of time in the third row of a Zeekr 009 people mover as part of this same trip, it’s worth asking if you need something this large when the 009 people mover offers a slightly better third row and is fully electric at an equivalent (or perhaps slightly cheaper) price.Still, there are so many luxuries in all three rows. Everything is electrically adjustable, heats, cools and massages you, and there’s shades for all the windows.To top a swish interior off, despite the fact that I fit in all positions at 182cm tall, there’s still 470 litres of boot capacity, and it even has a super suave split tailgate like an old Range Rover. Awesome.Vehicle to load (V2L)? Yep, got that. Full-size power outlet in the cabin? Got that too. Of course, the list of safety kit is exhaustive, but it remains to be seen if the Australian-spec version will also be exhaustive.You don’t want for included kit then, but how does this monolith of an SUV drive?Shock and awe is the answer. A 0-100km/h acceleration test was an expletive-laden experience, with the huge, circa-three-tonne SUV leaning back on its haunches and hurtling forward with terrifying alacrity. It is one of the most intense bouts of acceleration I have experienced in recent memory.The body certainly feels its dimensions when rounding a corner, and interestingly the steering feels a bit more detached than that of the 8X.The 9X stayed surprisingly composed and rode relatively flat during the 'moose test' part of the exercise set up for us during our brief test drive, no matter how unwieldy it looked from outside. Clearly, the air suspension does a lot of dynamic heavy lifting.The enormous monoblock-style wheels transmitted a noticeable amount of thud to the cabin before the adaptive suspension wised up to the speed bump test we subjected it to.But just like the 8X below it, the sheer weight and size of the 9X appears to be its primary drawback. There’s only so much suspension magic that can make up for the sheer density on offer here, and I can’t imagine it’s going to be easy to reliably find 5.2-meter-plus parking spots for such a car in the centre of the city.

Electric cars are finally having their moment. As petrol and diesel prices soar, it appears everyone on the fence about buying an electric vehicle (EV) have taken the plunge.Having steadily hovered around the 10 per cent total market share for the past 18 months, EVs accounted for more than 16 per cent in April. That means approximately one-in-six cars sold last month were battery-powered.But perhaps even more interesting than just the total number of EVs sold, was who was selling them. The days of Tesla dominating the electric market appear to be over, with several new names emerging as popular options for Australians.Here are five of the most in-demand EVs in 2026.BYD Sealion 7For all the hype around BYD’s Shark 6 ute and cut-price Atto 1, the real star for the brand is its mid-size SUV. The Sealion 7 isn’t just a popular EV, it’s also one of the most popular SUVs on the market and was the seventh best-selling vehicle in April.Sales are up 342.2% year-to-date, but it isn’t just a sudden surge in the wake of the fuel crisis. The Sealion 7 has been a popular choice almost since it arrived. It was the eighth most popular SUV in its segment in 2025, behind some of the biggest names in the market - Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Sportage and Subaru Forester.So regardless of what happens with fuel prices in the coming months, the Sealion 7 looks set to remain a popular choice for anyone looking for a mid-size SUV, electric or otherwise.Geely EX5 If there is a biggest winner of the current surge in EV sales it is the Geely’s EX5. Sales are up 415.4% year-to-date, peaking with 1202 in April alone. That’s up from an average of just 328 sales per month in 2025 and its jump demonstrates that it is genuine demand in EVs, not simply availability, that is driving this current boom. The EX5 was already one of the most affordable EVs on the market, starting at just $41,990, so if it was simply price and choice creating this sales increase in electric options there’s no reason it wouldn’t have started last year.Instead, Geely is taking advantage of its appealing price and benefiting as Australian buyers look for a way to beat the pain at the pump.Zeekr 7X While it doesn’t have the sheer volume of others on this list, selling only 2698 examples so far in 2026, the 7X is proving to be consistently popular while growing in sales.It’s not surprising that it isn’t selling in bigger volumes like the BYD and Geely, as it is positioned as a more premium offering with a starting price of $57,900  that stretches to $72,900 for the flagship Performance AWD model.But averaging nearly 675 sales per month to start 2026, with a spike of 973 sales in April, it’s clear that the 7X is an EV with a growing following.Kia EV3 You may have noticed a theme with the previously mentioned models, as the newer Chinese brands have claimed the role of EV leaders. But one of the established brands holding its own is Kia.Not all of its EVs are proving a sales hit, with the larger EV6 and EV9 still returning relatively modest sales numbers, but the smaller EV3 is doing well. Sales are up 150.2 per cent year-to-date, helping it become the most popular small electric SUV in its price range.The EV3 has garnered critical acclaim and has been slowly building a customer base, likely appealing to those looking to make the electric switch with a brand they know and trust.Sales of the larger EV5 are also up in 2026, but nowhere near to the same level, increasing only 28.7 per cent as it competes directly against the Sealion 7, EX5 and even the 7X.Toyota bZ4XCompared to the other cars on this list the total 2026 sales of just 1323 looks a bit poor, but when you consider how the bZ4X has performed previously it is having a breakout moment.Toyota’s first EV averaged less than 87 sales per month in 2025 but in 2026 it is averaging 330 sales per month so far; peaking at 483 sales in April.This is likely thanks to a renewed marketing push from Toyota, the RAV4 changeover and the high petrol prices leading Australian buyers to give it another look. How long this continues remains to be seen, but given the struggle Toyota has had with this model so far, this is a definite bright spot for the bZ4X.

Vice President of Zeekr Group Mars Chen said a pick-up truck, or ute is certainly not off-the-table for the luxury brand’s future plans.Chen said it is something the company is having an intense discussion about right now.“But for now, it is just a discussion. You know, we want to redefine every single segment. Once we identify the segment, Zeekr will check how disruptive we can be if we enter,” said Chen.“So pick-up… MPV we’ve already done, roadster is also something we haven’t done yet, we’re only five years old, so in the coming years we have the curiosity to do it, but it’s not a concrete thing.”“At this moment, we are definitely focussed on SUV. As you know, SUV and pick-up are the top two segments in Australia, so based on our studies, 9X will enter toward the end of the year, and 8X the beginning of next year. “No doubt we will make it very clear our intention in the SUV segment.”“Hardcore off-road is definitely one direction, and we’re doing the research, but if we create a G-Wagon style, or Box this isn’t clear yet. Even 8X and 9X is not bad for the off-road segment. They’re not so extreme, but they definitely have some capability,” he said.Chen’s desire to set Zeekr apart from rivals may be the one thing that stops a future 4WD or ute.He said Zeekr might not have enough space to manoeuvre to really set itself apart, considering the multitude of new 4WDs and utes coming out of China.“If we cannot create enough differentiation, of course we won’t just follow or replicate .”“For Zeekr, I think we’re going to consolidate more. Every model needs to be global. It makes no sense to customise models just for one country. Even in China.”He noted in the premium segment, many well-regarded luxury brands were struggling to find traction with once popular offerings. Chen said the exception tended to be boxy off-roaders, with the G-Wagen and Defender in particular performing above similarly priced options from BMW and Audi.“If we want to be in that segment, we need to be a global brand.”He said Zeekr was still compiling “concrete information” on the ute segment to determine its direction, but specifically called out the Ford F-150 as being a volume-leader, perhaps suggesting Zeekr could look to the US-sized pick-up market for inspiration.The brand’s electrified approach, which sees its 8X and 9X SUVs have monstrous power outputs (up to 1030kW/1410Nm) whilst maintaining a powerful but modestly-sized petrol engine (205kW/410Nm), could be more of a circuit breaker in a segment which is still mainly dominated by V6 turbo or V8 petrol engines.Many rival automakers are investigating the potential of range-extender hybrids for large-size pick-up trucks, as is the case with Volkswagen’s re-booted Scout brand for the Americas.There could be more surprises to come if Zeekr chooses to forge down the ute and 4x4 path. One notable display at the Beijing Motor Show was the Geely-aligned Horse Powertrain stand.The company, which is a joint venture between Geely and Renault and exclusively manufactures engines and hybrid powertrains, was displaying a brand new 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine mated to a unique four-speed hybrid transmission housing dual electric motors. The brand’s representatives told CarsGuide at the show this set-up is expressly designed for high-output off-road and towing applications, seemingly uniquely suited to any large Geely or Zeekr 4x4 in the future.

I have been to three Chinese motor shows in a row, and all three times have signalled a shift in the calibre of the cars, which are increasingly setting a global agenda.The first time, I wrote of the sheer scale on display from some of the biggest brands and the amount of interest around carmakers BYD, GWM and Nio compared to the stands of Nissan, Toyota and Honda.The Shanghai Motor Show a year later was full of ambitious new products and a lack of fear to try new things on a global stage.But this year’s Beijing Motor Show marked yet another, unexpected shift, which should continue to strike fear into popular incumbents used to topping charts in regions around the world.This time, things were somewhat scaled back. Gone were the weird and whacky Chinese domestic market specials. The stands were slick, professional and showcased a handful of global-market ready models.Above all, the flavour was international. If the previous two motor shows were experimental and expansion themed, respectively the 2026 Beijing Motor Show was an announcement.Chinese automakers aren’t just for China any more. They have their sights well and truly set at topping the charts around the world.The Geely Group stand was happy to show some older cars, such as the Monjaro SUV and Preface sedan, but also ones that were fully prepared for export, with a variety of fresh hybrid powertrains designed to please international buyers and markets with different emissions settings and charging infrastructure.Even the auto giant’s primary reveal was relatively tame, a concept sedan which previewed its new design language but the message was clear - this is our new unified design for the world, not just for China, and it is powertrain agnostic. You’ll know a Geely when you see it, and it will have exactly what you want under the bonnet.The same could be said for most of the other stands I had time to visit. GAC showed off its global market off-road SUV alongside an array of export-ready models, but it was the more obscure once-domestic-only marques like the luxury HongQi and the off-road-focused 212 which had taken a massive step up in terms of the international allure of their stands.Another very telling shift was the renewed interest in brands like Nissan and Toyota. Not so much the globally-recognised versions of these brands, mind you, but their Chinese joint-venture incarnations, which have created quite some hype in the preceding months in markets outside of China.Nissan’s stand went from a sad handful of dated sedan models in previous years, to absolutely heaving with interest thanks to its Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute and just-revealed Terrano SUV.Nissan has unapologetically re-oriented toward its joint-venture with Dongfeng in China for these models, declaring it has to lean on “China Speed” to reignite interest in its otherwise ailing global footprint.Toyota, meanwhile, showed a stand primarily of joint-venture models with BYD and GAC, many of which, it seems, may start to be exported as more of the world seeks a more electrified line-up than the Japanese juggernaut has previously been keen to offer.With context, this shift makes a lot of sense. Domestically, Chinese automakers have been engaged in a brutal price war, as Beijing’s subsidies shift between production of ‘New Energy’ models to the actual sales pipeline, as the government seeks to rapidly get combustion vehicles off the road.The result has seen the biggest players, like BYD, able to use their scale to sell models at extremely sharp prices in order to squeeze rivals on volume, all seemingly with the objective of being one of the last ones standing at any cost. It has seen a massive contraction in the number of automakers able to stay afloat in China, and with a market quickly reaching a point of ‘New Energy’ saturation, many, including BYD, have sought the refuge and higher margins of export markets like Australia.As it turns out, many of these markets have been ripe for the taking, particularly ones with low barriers to entry, incumbent market leaders not used to such competition, and little to no tariffs.It’s no wonder then, that as I walked around the Beijing Motor Show, I very much felt like every automaker was trying to sell me a car, rather than the local standing next to me.

Zeekr has confirmed plans to add fully electric versions of its much-anticipated 8X and 9X luxury hybrid SUVs in the near future.Originally debuting as plug-in hybrids, the two models use a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine on top of massive batteries. Both use a hybrid transaxle system in the front mating the engine to powerful electric motors, while they have a fully independent electric rear motor (or two for the performance grade).The regular version of the 8X already produces an impressive 660kW/935Nm, according to Chinese specifications, while the high-performance tri-motor version produces up to 1030kW/1410Nm.Both cars ride on the flexible SEA-S platform, which supports both hybrid and fully electric layouts, and can wield a 900-volt electrical architecture for ultra-rapid charging and ultra-high power outputs.Zeekr Europe’s Chief Engineer for Mechanical Architecture, Kennet Pettersson, said both vehicles were originally designed as full battery-electric platforms, making the EV spin-offs “relatively straightforward".Adding to Pettersson’s comments, Zeekr Group Vice President, Mars Chen, said: “Over three years ago when we had big success with 001 and 009, in that moment we were sure about one thing especially when it comes to international models, and that one very important thing was that the world will not always be ICE (internal combustion engine) or BEV (battery electric vehicle).“We have to have the two in our family, so knowing the reality, the company decided to prepare some hybrid models, because you know Geely (Zeekr’s parent company), is coming from the ICE industry. So we realised that there are some models which are very successful in this segment - Li Auto, Aito using range extenders.”“It’s not something we simply wanted to replicate, so actually, our hybrid system which you see placed in the 9X and 8X today, it's not just a range extender or just a plug-in hybrid, it’s a mix.“The experience we want to give the customer is more electric, which means silent, huge torque, and without any latency.“But this car still has an engine, it still has the capacity, and for range, you don’t need to worry. So that’s why we made that decision for big cars.“I switched to a hybrid car, but frankly speaking, I want to go back to an EV because in my scenario, I only did more than 350km a day once in the last two years. I only need to charge once a week and that’s it.”“So, it’s not a technical choice, it's more of a commercial choice. But I’m very happy to share with you that the version is coming.”Mr Chen also shared that we’d see at least one battery electric version of either the 9X or 8X before the next Chinese auto show (roughly a year), but wouldn’t say which model. He confirmed any design changes between the hybrids set to launch in Australia imminently and the fully electric version would be minimal.As it is, the 8X is already set to cost in excess of $85,000 in Australia, with the 9X likely starting at around $100,000.Expect the fully electric versions to likely have similar, if not higher, power outputs, and with correspondingly larger batteries.Currently, even the hybrid version of the 8X has either a 55kWh battery allowing a 320km range, or a 70kWh battery allowing a 410km range. In fully electric format, expect at least a 90kWh battery, although it wouldn't be surprising to see the brand target one of the industry’s longest driving ranges for a five-meter-plus SUV.Zeekr has shot to the mainstream from relative obscurity in 2026 in Australia thanks almost entirely to its sharply priced and impressively specified 7X fully electric mid sizer which has shot to the top of the sales charts in its category.The brand will no doubt be hoping the 8X, due to arrive in 2027, will live up to the hype it is already generating.Expect to see the 9X hybrid SUV join the brand’s range before the end of the year, with the 7GT Euro-style electric wagon also slated for a late 2026 or early 2027 launch.The brand also showed an updated version of its 009 people mover with significant under-the-skin changes at the Beijing Motor Show.