Zeekr 9X: China's First Plug-In Hybrid Flagship SUV Challenges Global Luxury Rivals

The Zeekr 9X marks a historic milestone as the Chinese automaker's inaugural plug-in hybrid vehicle and new flagship SUV. Launched on September 29, 2025, this full-size luxury SUV directly targets ultra-premium competitors like the Range Rover and Rolls-Royce Cullinan, blending state-of-the-art technology, extraordinary performance, and lavish amenities.

Pricing and Market Positioning

The Zeekr 9X is offered in four variants with pricing spanning from 465,900 yuan to 599,900 yuan (approximately US$63,965 to US$82,376). A limited-time trade-in promotion provides 10,000 yuan in benefits, effectively reducing the entry price to 455,900 yuan (around US$62,625). The base Max 55kWh model starts at 465,900 yuan (US$65,440), while the Ultra 55kWh and Ultra 70kWh versions are priced at 485,900 yuan (US$68,250) and approximately 499,900 yuan (US$70,350) respectively.

Exterior Design and Dimensions

The 9X introduces a bold new design direction for Zeekr, featuring a boxy, upright profile that has earned it the nickname "the Cullinan of Hangzhou Bay" due to its resemblance to the Rolls-Royce flagship SUV. The front end showcases a split headlight design integrated with a squared-off fascia, creating a commanding road presence. A roof-mounted LiDAR sensor indicates the vehicle's advanced autonomous driving capabilities.

The SUV measures 5,239 mm in length, 2,029 mm in width, and 1,819 mm in height, with a substantial 3,169 mm wheelbase ensuring generous interior space. The minimalist side profile features smooth body lines complemented by a glossy black roof and mirrors, chrome window trim, and massive 22-inch forged wheels that emphasize its luxury positioning. At the rear, a distinctive ring-shaped taillight cluster with integrated Zeekr lettering provides stronger visual identity than conventional through-type designs.

Seven exterior color options are available: Polar White, Midnight Black, Glacier Silver, Twilight Purple, Starry Grey, Black Knight, and Wilderness Green. The Black Knight edition features full black paint, darkened multi-spoke wheels, and red brake calipers for a performance-oriented aesthetic.

Interior Luxury and Technology

The cabin demonstrates premium materials and cutting-edge technology, centered around dual 16-inch OLED displays for the driver and front passenger, supplemented by a massive 47-inch augmented reality head-up display. The infotainment system runs on Qualcomm's 8295P chip and includes wireless charging and physical shortcut keys for intuitive operation.

Luxury features include hand-polished Nordic wood trim and a premium 32-speaker Naim audio system in a 9.2.4.8 configuration, delivering an impressive 3,868 watts of output. The 9X adopts an exclusive six-seat layout in a 2+2+2 configuration, with all seats offering multi-way electric adjustment plus heating, ventilation, and massage functions.

Second-row passengers enjoy "zero-gravity" chairs that can rotate 180 degrees and recline with extending footrests, a 17-inch 3K rear entertainment screen, and eight vibration modules synchronized to screen content for immersive experiences. A detachable control screen doubles as a remote for rear seat functions. Additional premium amenities include heated, ventilated, and massage seats, rear entertainment displays, electric sunshades, and an intelligent fragrance system.

Revolutionary Powertrain Technology

Built on Zeekr's SEA-S architecture with a groundbreaking 900V high-voltage platform, the 9X becomes the world's first 900-volt hybrid vehicle. The sophisticated powertrain combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four gasoline engine producing 205 kW (275 hp) with remarkable 46% thermal efficiency. This is paired with three electric motors: one 290 kW (389 hp) unit powering the front wheels and two 370 kW (496 hp) motors driving each rear wheel independently.

The combined system output reaches an extraordinary 1,030 kW (1,381 hp), enabling the 3.1-ton SUV to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 3.1 seconds and achieve a top speed of 240 km/h. According to TopUsedCars.com reporter Jun Li, the performance difference when the battery is fully discharged versus fully charged is only 0.2 seconds for the 0-100 km/h acceleration run.

Two battery options are available: a base 55.1 kWh pack providing up to 235 km of CLTC electric range, and a premium 70 kWh NMC battery from CATL offering 302 km of range. The larger battery supports exceptional 6C fast charging, enabling 20-80% replenishment in just nine minutes and 10-80% in under 11 minutes. This represents the largest battery capacity yet seen in a plug-in hybrid vehicle, with Zeekr claiming up to 380 km of electric-only range—the most of any hybrid on the market.

Advanced Chassis and Suspension

The 9X features world-first closed dual-chamber air suspension combined with dual-valve CCD electromagnetic dampers and a 48V active anti-roll bar system. This sophisticated setup provides 110 mm of total ride height adjustment for a maximum ground clearance of 288 mm, with the ability to raise the vehicle by 30 mm in just 7 seconds.

The chassis construction utilizes 91% high-strength steel and aluminum, featuring 10 structural beams with over 2,000 MPa of tensile strength, resulting in exceptional torsional rigidity of 41,600 Nm/degree. The roof section alone can sustain over 11 tons of weight—4.2 times the vehicle's own mass.

Beyond standard Comfort, Eco, and Sport driving modes, the 9X offers seven specialized terrain settings: grass/gravel, light snow, deep snow, mud, sand, rock climbing, and mountain roads, demonstrating remarkable all-terrain capability for a luxury SUV.

Cutting-Edge Autonomous Driving Systems

The Zeekr 9X debuts two levels of Zeekr's G-Pilot autonomous driving technology. The base G-Pilot H7 system utilizes a single NVIDIA Thor-U system-on-chip delivering 700 TOPS of computing power, while the flagship G-Pilot H9 configuration employs dual Thor-U chips for 1,400 TOPS of processing capability.

The 9X becomes the first vehicle equipped with the G-Pilot H9 system, incorporating an impressive 43-sensor suite. This includes one 520-line long-range LiDAR unit capable of detecting objects up to 300 meters ahead, plus four high-precision solid-state LiDAR sensors positioned on the front fenders, front bumper, and rear spoiler for 360-degree coverage. The sensor array is completed by three millimeter-wave radars and 13 cameras.

Zeekr claims several industry-first features, including the General Automated Evasion System and full-capacity Vehicle-to-Parking self-driving capability. According to TopUsedCars.com reporter Calvin Zhang, the system is engineered to L3 autonomous driving standards, though full deployment awaits regulatory approval.

Safety and Build Quality

The robust body structure is designed to comfortably achieve a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, with Zeekr claiming the vehicle has been tested at speeds up to 105 km/h in crash scenarios. The extensive use of ultra-high-strength materials in the chassis, combined with the 41,600 Nm/degree torsional rigidity, provides exceptional occupant protection while maintaining dynamic performance.

Global Export Services

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The Zeekr 9X represents a bold statement in the luxury SUV segment, combining hybrid efficiency with supercar-level performance, cutting-edge autonomous driving technology, and opulent interior appointments. By offering this comprehensive package at prices significantly below established ultra-luxury competitors, Zeekr is positioning the 9X as a formidable challenger to both traditional premium brands and emerging Chinese rivals in the rapidly evolving new energy vehicle market.