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Zeekr is planning to add a second prestige plug-in hybrid large SUV to its line-up, with over 300km of EV range and 1030kW of power.
Family Cars
Details of the 2026 Zeekr 8X plug-in hybrid SUV have emerged thanks to details lodged with China’s patent office.
The Zeekr 8X will slot in one rung below the 9X on Zeekr’s product ladder, sharing the same platform, 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and three-motor plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
Information supplied to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reveals that the longest-range version of the Zeekr 8X will be equipped with a 70kWh battery, enabling a CLTC-rated range of up to 328km of electric-only driving.
The three-motor PHEV drivetrain will also be offered with a smaller 55.1kWh battery, rated to enable 256km of electric range, based on CLTC testing, which provides slightly more optimistic range estimates than test figures for vehicles sold in Australia.
Peak power from the 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder is rated at 205kW, and if the 8X mirrors the larger 9X, expect a single 290kW motor driving the front axle, and two 370kW rear motors for a maximum combined output of 1030kW.
In the 3.1-tonne 9X, 0-100km/h acceleration takes a claimed 3.1 seconds, with the slightly smaller and lighter Zeekr 8X potentially quicker again.
The 70kW ternary lithium battery is part of a 900-volt architecture that allows ‘6C’ charging speeds, or peak charging at six times the battery’s capacity, or up to 420kW on a compatible charger, although Zeekr advertises the 9X with a slightly higher 500kW charging capability.
Like the 9X, the 8X is also expected to offer less powerful outputs for the tri-motor drivetrain, full details of which have not been published.
At 5100mm long nose-to-tail, the Zeekr 8X will be roughly the same size as an Audi Q7, with a 3069mm wheelbase, around 64mm longer than the Q7’s, potentially providing better passenger space.
Both two-row, five-seat and three-row, six-seat versions of the 8X are expected, with Zeekr’s positioning as a luxury brand likely to see features like multi-way power adjustable first and second-row seats, large front and rear screens, Yamaha premium audio, and full leather upholstery.
Advanced driver assist technologies, Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities, lidar sensing, and an array of driver assist cameras are also expected for the Chinese domestic market.
Styling for the Zeekr 8X will differ slightly from that of the squared-off 9X, which carries some familiar styling details from premium SUVs like Range Rovers and the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
The 8X adopts a slightly softer, though still formal, look.
A rounded side window line and slight tapering of the roof line and rising beltline give the 8X a more dynamic look than the imposing 9X.
Familiar details like the waterfall chrome grille and dual-layer head and tail light designs are carried over, with the 8X offering a choice of chrome or black finishes for details like the window surrounds, mirrors, door handles, and bumper valances.
The 2026 Zeekr 8X is expected to go on sale in China in the first half of 2026. Like the larger 9X, Zeekr is expected to expand international availability after its initial Chinese launch, although official confirmation is likely to follow once the 8X launches.
Family Cars Guide
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
