Last year, the hitherto electric-only Zeekr brand introduced its first ever range-extended model called the 9X – a massive, imposing flagship SUV that bears some striking similarities with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan (if not an outright copy). Geely’s luxury offshoot has now released the first images of a smaller, sportier follow-up model called the 8X. Think of it as the Range Rover Sport to the 9X’s full-fat Range Rover.
Still camouflaged ahead of what will likely be a full reveal in the coming months, the 8X nevertheless shows its sleeker design, grafting the 9X’s front and rear ends onto a swoopy 7X-like body shape. There’s the larger model’s full-height grille and C-shaped LED headlights with horizontal daytime running light bars, along with a similar dual-bar graphic on the full-width taillights.
The rest of the car is standard SUV, with the 8X ditching the 7X’s shrink-wrapped door mirrors and even the pop-out door handles, instead using conventional pull-type handles as per the 9X. A charge port and fuel filler door on either side hints at the petrol-electric powertrain underneath. As is the case with most high-end Chinese cars these days, there’s a lidar sensor at the top of the windscreen.
No details have been revealed thus far, but expect the 8X to feature all the technologies of the 9X but with a five-seater cabin. This includes the powertrain, consisting of 897 PS/935 Nm dual- and 1,400 PS/1,410 Nm triple-motor (two on the rear axle) configurations, with a 2.0 litre turbo four-cylinder engine functioning as a range extender. Even the 9X is capable of getting from zero to 100 km/h in as little as 3.1 seconds, and we expect the 8X to be even quicker.
Also expected to be carried over is the 9X’s range of 55 kWh and 70 kWh NMC batteries, the latter delivering up to 380 km of pure electric range on China’s admittedly lenient CLTC cycle; the 8X will likely travel further still thanks to better aerodynamics. Both are capable of “6C” DC charging (six times the capacity of the battery in kW) and can be topped up from 20 to 80% in just nine minutes.
The post Zeekr 8X teased – smaller 9X “Sport” with 1,400 PS 2.0T three-motor REEV powertrain coming soon? appeared first on Paul Tan’s Automotive News.
