Zeekr Australia upcoming models: 8X, 9X, 7GT and more

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Geely subsidiary Zeekr has overcome its curious name to become one of our biggest surprises of the past year.

Zeekr’s promising X small SUV and 009 people mover were followed by the 7X mid-size SUV, whose slick design and unobtrusive ADAS have elevated it beyond similarly priced Chinese SUVs. So what’s next?

• Zeekr 8X
• Zeekr 9X
• Zeekr 7GT

Zeekr 8X

Car type: large SUV

Launch: Q4 2026 or Q1 2027

With the Volkswagen Touareg ending production in 2026 and the Mazda CX-70’s flaws still unresolved, Zeekr could have the big, semi-luxury two-row SUV market essentially to itself with the 8X plug-in hybrid.

Once launched, the 8X will become the first non-EV Zeekr, even though the engine acts primarily as a generator. Bolstering the electric range (up to 328km, albeit on China’s lenient CLTC measurement) if you need to go further, the engine rarely drives the wheels directly. 

Built on Geely’s 900-volt Sustainable Experience Architecture modular platform, the 8X is therefore related to the Lotus Eletre.

The flagship tri-motor 8X claims no less than 1030kW of power, and despite a kerb weight of around 2.8 tonnes, acceleration is as rapid as that output suggests – 0-100km/h in a claimed 2.96 seconds.

Our overseas correspondent Tom Baker previewed the 8X in China earlier this year. Though he was dissatisfied with engine refinement and handling (something which could be amended before Australian sales start), standard air suspension and a lush interior suggest Zeekr wants to steal sales from the pricier BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne.

Zeekr is commendably defying two more Chinese norms – actual buttons are numerous on the doors, and the huge front passenger screen can be deleted.

A starting price of $80,000 to $95,000 is rumoured for Australia, with the flagship tri-motor likely to be priced beyond $130,000.

Zeekr 9X

Car type: extra-large SUV

Launch: Q4 2026 or Q1 2027

If the 8X is meant to nip at the BMW X5’s heels, the 9X will nip at the X7’s.

Much like those BMWs, the Zeekr 9X copy-pastes the underpinnings of the 8X into an even bigger and more opulent body, though the 5.2m-long 9X was the first to go on sale – launching in China in September 2025.

The Australian 9X will package three rows of seats, with the reclinable second row appearing to offer aeroplane-style tray tables. A two-row, five-seat 9X has just launched in China, while a chauffeur-spec four-seat layout is also offered overseas.

Besides that, further specification for the 9X is reported to be near-identical to the 8X. 

That includes a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and either 55kWh or 70kWh battery sizes. Zeekr claims 0-100km/h in 3.9sec for the ‘entry-level’ 660kW 9X, and just 3.1sec for the 1030kW tri-motor variant.

In China, Zeekr 9X pricing begins at 465,900 yuan for the six-seat version, which is around 23 percent more than the base 8X’s list price (376,800 yuan).

In Australia, pricing for the three-row 9X plug-in hybrid is expected to start at around $120,000.

Zeekr 7GT

Car type: mid-size station wagon

Launch: confirmed for Australia, timing TBA

With BMW underestimating demand for its M3 Touring, and the Audi RS6 Avant selling well in SUV-mad America, Zeekr’s decided to jump on the wagon bandwagon.

Sold as the 007 (sedan) and 007 GT (wagon) in China, only the wagon is expected to arrive in Australia. The 7GT is already sold in Europe, where its specs mostly align with the 7X, which is built on the same platform.

This means two rear-wheel-drive variants, one with a 75kWh battery yielding 519km of WLTP range, and another with a 100kWh battery and a 655km claimed range. Topping the range, as per the Australian 7X, is a high-performance model with all-wheel-drive, 475kW and air suspension.

Boot space with the seats folded down, all-important in a sports-wagon, is 1737L, well above the 1510L that can be crammed into a BMW 3 Series Touring. It is 10cm longer than the BMW though, at 4817mm long and 1456mm high.

With Australian sales up to a year away, pricing is speculative. In China, prices start at 203,900 yuan (AU$42,810). In Sweden – where Geely, owners of Volvo, has an extensive presence – the 7GT starts at 494,000 kronor (AU$73,134).