The chief engineer for Zeekrs The European division has bold plans to take on the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz – as well as their respective performance sub-brands 8X And 9X large SUVs.
In conversation with Daily Sparkz At Auto China 2026 in Beijing, Zeekr Europe’s chief mechanical architecture engineer Kennet Pettersson said he wanted Zeekr to be considered alongside the German classics in the upper echelons of the luxury SUV segment.
“(We) are certainly targeting the premium Germans in this segment. We want to beat them and be at the same level or even better,” he said.
“I think we’re (already) better when it comes to BEV behavior – how our car interacts and so on, infotainment and so on – so I think we’re already there.”
With Daily Sparkz you can save thousands on a new car. Click Here to get a great deal.
When asked whether the high-performance version of the 8X in particular could compete with models from the performance brands Audi Sport, BMW M and Mercedes-AMG, Mr Pettersson replied “absolutely, yes”.
“I think we have a chance. If the emotions weren’t there for the ICE (internal combustion engine), the driving dynamics would be the same,” said Zeekr’s European engineering chief, clarifying that while the 8X and 9X sound like plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) on paper, they drive more like extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs).
“When you start thinking about PHEVs, like the cars on the road today that maybe have an (electric) range of, say, a maximum of 100 km, they have an internal combustion engine integrated into the wheels, so you constantly have that internal combustion engine driving behavior.”
“In this model (the 8X and 9X) it behaves like a BEV. So you can’t recognize it as a PHEV because the engine runs very smoothly, is decoupled from the wheels up to 80 km/h and at over 80 km/h you can connect the wheels to a driveshaft to improve fuel efficiency.”
“But in general it behaves like a BEV. You have the same response, the same torque and the same immediate response, the same smoothness.
“(For) everyday journeys it has an (electric) range of 200 to 300 km, depending on driving style and climate. And if you travel long distances with less charging infrastructure, use the engine.”
“There’s 50 to 60 liters of fuel in it, so the range is up to 1,200 km. So you don’t have to worry about losing the ability to recharge,” Mr Pettersson added.
The Zeekr 8X and Zeekr 9X are both targeted for the Australian market, where they are expected to arrive in local showrooms either very late in 2026 or sometime in 2027.
Measuring 5100mm long, 1998mm wide and 1780mm high with a 3069mm wheelbase, the two-row Zeekr 8X is almost as long as a BMW X7; while the larger and more slab-shaped 9X increases these dimensions to 5239/2029/1819/3169 mm.
Both SUVs feature EREV powertrains, combining a 205kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with two or three electric motors and either 55.1kWh or 70kWh battery packs – although, as Mr Pettersson mentioned, the engine can still drive the wheels.
The versions with two motors offer system outputs of 660 kW/935 Nm, while the most powerful variants with three motors deliver a whopping 1030 kW/1410 Nm. Meanwhile, the range of electric vehicles in China’s milder CLTC test cycle is around 350-400 km depending on the variant, with the total combined range being well over 1000 km.
For the smaller of the two SUVs – which is still positively large – the three-motor powertrain is offered in the “8X Dawn” variant, which has plenty of performance kit to take on the AMG and M.
In addition to offering a quick 0-100 km/h acceleration in 2.96 seconds and an equally fast 20 to 80 percent battery charge time of just nine minutes thanks to its 900V electric architecture, the Zeekr 8X Dawn also offers a number of improvements over the standard model.
A carbon fiber body kit is designed to improve aerodynamics, and there’s even an “active tail fin” that extends the roof spoiler upwards at high speeds to improve rear downforce.
Tires measuring 275mm wide at the front and 315mm at the rear wrap around massive alloy wheels to improve grip. Behind them are ventilated and perforated brake discs measuring 412 mm in diameter at the front and 364 mm at the rear, with the front discs held by six-piston Brembo calipers.
Inside, there’s more carbon fiber trim, a “Boost” button on the steering wheel to optimize the powertrain for maximum attack “for up to 20 seconds,” sports seats with integrated headrests, active noise cancellation and a premium sound system from Naim – the same brand that makes high-end audio for Bentley.
The Zeekr 8X and 9X will sit above the existing small X and mid-size 7X electric SUVs in the Australian lineup, locally introducing Zeekr’s “Super Hybrid” powertrains.
Pricing and specifications for the Australian market have not yet been confirmed, although prices for the 8X in the Chinese market start at 376,800 yuan (A$77,142), lower than the cheapest 009 people mover at 439,000 yuan (A$89,876). Here the 009 range starts at $115,900 before on-road costs.
Zeekr Australia Managing Director Frank Li said: Daily Sparkz Earlier this month, the 9X will be subject to the luxury car tax, meaning it will be priced above the current $91,387 threshold for “fuel efficient” vehicles.
With that in mind, you can expect the cheapest 8X to start at around $85,000 to $100,000 and the 9X to start in the $100,000 to $120,000 range. That’s not cheap, but given the power and electrification on offer here, it should represent strong value compared to similarly sized rivals from premium European brands.
The premium Chinese brand has also confirmed the release of the 007 GT EV Shooting Brake Wagon (likely known here as the 7GT) for release in Australia, where it is expected to arrive within the next 12 months.
Stay tuned to Daily Sparkz for the latest information on Zeekr
MORE: Zeekr 8X SUV registered for Australia
MORE: Zeekr 9X SUV, 7GT wagon confirmed for Australia
