Zeekr 9X : In the fast-paced world of car design and innovation, an epoch altering creation is poised to take the automotive sector by storm – courtesy of China-based premium electric vehicle firm Zeekr, whose trailblazing new flagship SUV, the stunning Zeekr 9X, epitomizes a turning point in the future of Chinese luxury car manufacturing, boasting sensational hybrid technology wrapped in a design instantly reminiscent of Rolls-Royce luxury.
Making its public debut at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, the 9X marks Zeekr’s strategic shift from a pure battery electric focus to a portfolio that intelligently connects the past and future with what was and what will be.
A Powerhouse Stand That Makes An Impact
The Zeekr 9X exerts a strong presence thanks to its squared-off, chiselled lines and full-size proportions, reflecting what the company describes as a “majestic without being intimidating” design approach.
One look at the video and set of images for this automotive work of art and you can see why Chinese car enthusiasts have dubbed it “Hangzhou Bay Cullinan” – a reference to both the company’s corporate headquarters and to the Cullinan, a car manufactured by Rolls-Royce sharing comparable aesthetics to the ultra-luxury SUV.
It is a grand form that makes no apologies for its size. At 5,239 mm long, 2,029 mm wide, 1,819 mm tall and with a wheelbase that spreads out to 3,169 mm, the 9X is the automotive equivalent of old money lording its presence on the road.
Up front is the self-proclaimed world’s biggest integrated grille (the front grille plate, that is), with the item stretching out a substantial 1,245 mm at its widest point at the bottom, according to Zeekr. Above that rests something the company breathlessly hails as “the globe’s largest clamshell cover,” which boasts a mass of 2.15 square meters.
This isn’t just a car; it is an architectural statement on wheels.
Revolutionary Hybrid Technology, Redefining Performance
The Zeekr 9X is more than another pretty face in the expanding herd of luxury SUVs. It marks a technological masterstroke, as well, being the first hybrid model from Zeekr to feature its cutting-edge “Super Electric Hybrid” system.
This powertrain combines the best features of traditional BEV, plug-in hybrid- and range–extender technology, and will disrupt current performance, efficiency and drivability standards.
Powering this system is a muscular 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine, which by itself produces 279 PS. In conjunction with electric drive from a 290 kW (395 PS) front motor and an equally powerful 370 kW (503 PS) rear motor, the 9X concept provides a total system output of a massive 898 PS.
This huge output means the full-size luxury SUV will surge from 0-100 km/h in a claimed three seconds – this is supercar territory – and will go on to reach a top speed of 240 km/h.
What’s most impressive is that the vehicle’s pure electric range is greater than 380 km according to China’s CLTC testing standard, supposedly enough to attribute to it the longest electric drive range of any hybrid vehicle so far.
This impressive achievement is enabled by an advanced 900V electrical architecture and battery technology engineered by CATL for the Xiaoyao battery system.
For the charging-minded among us, Zeekr has you covered there as well. The firm says the 9X is world’s fastest ever charging hybrid SUV and its 6C charging (which is six times the kW rating of its battery capacity) makes it possible to replenish 20-80% of battery charge in nine minutes.
That makes the 9X not only a performance monster, but a usable option for those with range fear.
Beyond Expectation luxury
Enter the 9X and you’re brought into a world where opulence has no limits. Although Zeekr has kept the interior details fairly hush-hush, what little we do know indicates a cabin that strikes a balance between space, comfort, and tech.
According to Zeekr, the 9X also has the biggest rear doors of any new-energy SUV, meaning rear seat passengers should also enjoy a good level of accessibility. These doors also open up to 80 degrees, which is more generous, and assist also for access to the third row.
This considerate touch speaks to Zeekr’s appreciation of the fact that real luxury isn’t just nice materials, it’s things like every interaction with the car being special.
Now the inside is likely to be lined with everything from hand-stitched leather to highly polished wood trims. It will also come with a range of seating configurations, offering six or seven-passenger seating in the standard models and the premium model with a more exclusive four-seater featuring executive-style rear seating, similar to that found in first-class seats.
High Tech Meets FashionSmart design sets the CT50 apart from other high-tech thermostats.
But even more than its good looks and performance attributes, the Zeekr 9X is a technological masterpiece. It”s also the first model that will be equipped with the G-Pilot intelligent driving aids.
The system is based on Zeekr’s LEVEL 3 unmanned driving architecture, with the ZEEA 3.0 central computing digital architecture, which is said to increase end-to-end communication response speed by 50%.
The system – which supports five lidar sensors – is driven by twin Thor chips, boasting to offer an aggregate 1,400 TOPS in computing power. The sensor suite contains one long-range LiDAR and four additional short-range LiDARs for blind spot coverage, allowing, as Zeekr puts it, “four layers of 360-degree perception capabilities”.
What it translates to in real life is that the 9X is capable of negotiating intricate cityscapes by itself.Should that happen, it would rank as one of the most advanced systems in operation in a production vehicle.
And, the chassis technology is just as amazing. The 9X also has 22-inch forged alloy wheels which are individually hand-finished to a mirror shine in 30 hours.
Ride quality and driving dynamics are catered for courtesy of a dual-chamber air suspension system with dual-valve continuous damping control for the SUV.
This advanced suspension can elevate the car by as much as 110mm to achieve maximum ground clearance of 288mm, as well as allow the SUV to climb gradients of up to 70% in deep snow.
Complementing the arrangement is 48-volt electric active roll stabilization — another apparently first-for-an-SUV feature from a Chinese brand — that seeks to keep body roll to a near-zero level during high-speed cornering.
For bumpy trips the system can separate the left and right wheels to dampen the effects of lumps and bumps, allowing for the most comfortable ride no matter the environment.
Positioning in the Marketplace
The unveiling of the Zeekr 9X coincides with a crucial time for China’s auto industry. Zeekr started in March 2021 with only battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and followed in the footsteps of other big EV makers in China.
But with the market quickly shifting these past few years, almost all local EV manufacturers have started to enrich their list of products with hybrid models, not to mention BEV offerings as well, to garner a broader market.
Market position Market positioning in the luxury flagship SUV category. Although official pricing will be announced at a later time, we initially expect the price to start at around 500,000 RMB 68,000 USD.
A possible premium “Grand Edition” could be pushing close to the 1 million yuan ($136,000 USD) level. This pricing makes the 9X a match for traditional luxury SUVs of Europe, but with the allure of sophisticated hybrid power and self-driving technology.
Zeekr could not be coming at a better time. With affluent Chinese consumers turning to domestic brands for premium vehicles in greater numbers, the 9X is a promising alternative to imported luxury SUVs.
Its combination of impressive design and ecological technology helps it right to the center of modern luxury consumption in China.
A Worldly Plan Is Formed
Although it’s initially targeting the Chinese market, where sales are set to start in the third quarter of 2025, there is little doubt that Zeekr has its sights set on making a global impression. The 9X was an important step in the firm’s ambitions to be a serious player in the global luxury car arena.
The allusion to Rolls-Royce isn’t coincidental — it’s aspirational. At a Zeekr Group Night event, when Sielaff was asked about the “Hangzhou Bay Cullinan” moniker, he did not shy away from the comparison, claiming it fits with the brand’s vision for the future.
The 9X, as the first of an entire luxury-vehicle family, provides us a peek into Zeekr’s larger aspirations. If this flagship SUV is a measure of things to come, it seems that their next models would be remarkably designed, packed with technology yet stay true to their roots to a uniquely Chinese brand.
Chinese Luxury On its Way to Be Redefined
More than another drop in the ocean of premium sports utility vehicle offerings, the Zeekr 9X. It is very much a statement that Chinese car firms are not only the future but ready to take on the upper echelons of the luxury car world.
Zeekr Brand new car blends the heritage luxury elements and are complemented by the latest technology, unparalleled performance and new distinct design language to make a statement that it has to be taken seriously.
With the automotive world at large shifting inexorably towards electrification, the 9X represents an enticing link between past and future, a car that embodies the best qualities of both internal combustion and electric drive without sacrificing luxury, performance, or presence.
“Who knows if the Zeekr 9X can ever truly battle the big boys of premium SUV making.” But one thing is certain: with this extraordinary vehicle, Zeekr has demonstrated that it has arrived on the global luxury scene in the most spectacular fashion imaginable.
And the “Hangzhou Bay Cullinan” is here to prove it, and the world of luxury motoring will forever be changed.