China’s electrified answer to the Range Rover and Rolls-Royce Cullinan has been confirmed and detailed for several European export markets, potentially indicating what’s coming to Australia.
The large Zeekr 9X ‘Super Hybrid’ SUV has been a hot topic since it was launched in its home market of China last September – where it attracted no fewer than 40,000 orders within an hour – largely due to its hulking proportions, luxurious appointments and big performance claims.
Expressions of interest for the new flagship SUV have opened in some left-hand drive European markets including Sweden, Norway, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Denmark and Germany, alongside confirmation of specifications for said regions.
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The headline act is arguably the sole powertrain option. Teaming a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with two electric motors and a 55kWh battery pack, the Zeekr 9X Ultra extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) produces 660kW of power and 935Nm of torque, and is claimed to deliver a 0-100km/h time of 4.1 seconds, as well as 179km of electric driving range, and up to 737km of combined driving range – according to preliminary European figures.
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Other confirmed features include:
- 22-inch alloy wheels
- 13-inch HD instrument cluster
- 2 x 16-inch 3.5K OLED touchscreens
- 47-inch augmented reality head-up display
- Dual-chamber air suspension incl. dual-valve Continuous Damping Control
- Active Noise Cancelling
- Digital pixel LED headlights
- 6-seat interior – 2+2+2 configuration
- 12-way power front seats incl. memory function
- 2nd row ‘Co-Pilot’ seats incl. 6-way power adjustment, memory
- 32-speaker Naim Premium Audiophile sound system
- 17-inch OLED rear entertainment system – sliding, foldable
- Detachable 2nd-row console OLED display
- 3rd row easy entry – power sliding rail
- 8.6L cabin refrigerator
- Theatre mode
- Nappa leather upholstery
Zeekr Assisted Drive features include:
- Adaptive cruise control
- AEB with front collision warning
- Auto Lane Change Assist
- Intelligent Self-Parking System
- LiDAR-powered Highway Navigation Assist
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The Zeekr 9X Ultra is based on a 900V electrical architecture, and its 55.1kWh Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) battery pack is able to be DC fast-charged at up to 330kW.
At the maximum DC charge rate, the 9X can receive a 10-80 per cent charge in just 9.5 minutes. Alternatively, the 11kW AC onboard charger can achieve 10-100 per cent in 5.5 hours.
Zeekr claims combined CO2 emissions of 77g/km, energy consumption of 28.5kWh/100km, and combined fuel consumption of 8.9L/100km (presumably with a depleted battery).
As noted earlier, the 9X is claimed to hit 100km/h in 4.1 seconds, but it also has an Autobahn-storming top speed of 240km/h – not bad for a vehicle measuring 5239mm long and 2029mm wide, with a kerb weight of 2900kg.
It’s worth noting the Ultra-spec 9X with the 55kWh battery is the mid-tier option, with the ‘Hyper’ flagship in China offering mammoth outputs of 1030kW/1410Nm from its tri-motor EREV powertrain, dropping its claimed 0-100km/h down to 3.1 seconds and offering 280km of WLTC range courtesy of a larger 70kWh battery pack.
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In terms of personalisation options, just three exterior paint finishes will be offered – Crystal White as standard, with Lava Grey and Onyx Black available as options.
22-inch ‘Monoblock’ style alloys will also be optional, as will a body-colour grille and satin-chrome D-pillar trims. A Black Pack comprising a gloss-black grille and D-pillar detailing is available solely with the Onyx Black paint.
The 9X’s Nappa leather interior is finished in Charcoal Black as standard, with Caramel Brown/Moonblade Blue available as an option in conjunction with the Onyx Black paint.
European vehicles are covered by a 10-year/200,000km warranty, with the high-voltage battery covered for eight years or 200,000km.
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Zeekr Australia has previously indicated the 9X would arrive in local showrooms either late in 2026 or sometime in the first half of 2027.
CarExpert reached out to the Chinese brand’s local arm regarding local release timing and specifications for the 9X, and we received the following statement: “9X has indeed been confirmed for the Australian market, however, on the topic of local specs and variants, these are still being finalised – so it’s too early to say at this point in time.”
While pricing for the 9X hasn’t been confirmed for Europe, let alone Australia, the 9X Ultra starts from ¥485,900 in China, which converts to A$102,534. By comparison, the cheapest Range Rover costs more than $270,000 in Australia.
