Chinese carmaker Zeekr announced this week that its flagship luxury SUV, the Zeekr 9X, has officially gone on sale in China, making it one of the most expensive vehicles from a domestic carmaker.
The Zeekr 9X is built on the SEA-S “Super Hybrid” system, the new luxury SUV boasts a revolutionary 900V high-voltage architecture and up to 1,000 kW of power, allowing for acceleration of 0-100km/h in 3.1 seconds and a pure electric range of 380 kilometres.
That range is according to the CLTC, which can often deliver a higher range than the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) normally used in Australia.
Zeekr, which is majority owned by Geely Automobile, claims that the Z9’s “ultra-fast” charging allows for the car to charge from 20 to 80 per cent in just 8.5 minutes.
The Zeekr 9X also comes with the Haohan AI Digital Chassis which includes advanced air suspension, active roll control, and smart drive modes, all of which are intended to deliver a smooth drive on highways as well as stability on rough terrain.
The Haohan Safety Armor system features the world’s first four-way crash test at 105 km/h, and also adds new safety features such as crosswind control, side-impact lift, and automatic obstacle avoidance.
Inside, the three-row six-seater 9X adds Cloud Lounge seats, a 17-inch OLED screen, and 3,800W Naim audio system.
Currently only available in China from RMB 465,900 (around $A99,000, converted), there’s nevertheless a chance the Zeekr 9X could make its way to Australia.
Zeekr Australia managing director Frank Li has confirmed to CarExpert that the 9X is under consideration for Australia, also confirming that the company plans to add hybrid models to what has previously been an electric-only model range.
Despite being one of the most expensive vehicles from a domestic Chinese carmaker to enter the local market, demand for the X9 has nevertheless been huge, with CnEVPost reporting that the company received over 10,000 firm orders within the first 13 minutes of it being available, on the back of nearly 80,000 pre-orders over the previous month.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.