China's Zeekr to release Hyundai Palisade and Volvo XC90-rivalling Lynk & Co 900 plug-in hybrid

Zeekr Australia is pushing for a rebadged version of the Lynk & Co 900, a lunge-in hybrid, three-row top fee SUV that has moral launched in China, to affix the logo’s local lineup as a sub-$100,000 rival to the Volvo XC90.

Measuring 5240mm long and 1999mm huge, the six-seater Lynk & Co 900 is a factual gigantic SUV.

It blends a 1.5- or 2.0-litre turbo petrol with twin electric motors for AWD, whereas 44kWh or 52kWh batteries provide an estimated 180-220km WLTP electric riding range. Mixed petrol and electric riding range will seemingly be reach 1000km.

The crack design to bring the Lynk & Co 900 to Australia illustrates the quick-shifting product planning conditions inside Zeekr and Geely extra usually, because the Australian industrial prospects of rather a couple of unique merchandise are without discover evaluated internally—and shopped to media.

Final week, Chasing Autos reported that Zeekr develop to be pondering bringing the 9X luxurious SUV to Australia as a halo model. Chasing Autos understands the somewhat gaudy styling of the Rolls Royce Cullinan-inspired 9X and excessive attach is counting in opposition to it in inside product discussions.

The brash Zeekr 9X is composed a contender for Australian launch, however there’s opponents is between it and another D-section hybrid SUV — the Lynk & Co 900 lunge-in hybrid is that ‘assorted’ car

In Australia, the Lynk & Co 900 could additionally be known as the Zeekr 8X (reflecting the truth it will sit above the 7X midsize SUV). There could be a less seemingly chance it could most seemingly be known as the Zeekr 900 on narrative of of imaginable confusion with the Zeekr 009 luxurious minivan, already on sale locally.

Both manner, the Lynk & Co 900 would sit between those automobiles. The Tesla Mannequin Y-rivalling Zeekr 7X is anticipated to be priced around $70,000 sooner than on-road costs when it is a long way released in Australia later in 2025 whereas the Zeekr 009 minivan begins at $134,900 + ORC.

The styling of the Lynk & Co 900 is considerably extra subtle—even rather heavenly in the metal, presenting with a proper glasshouse, a resolved entrance end, snowflake 21-lunge alloys, roof rails and a neat fracture up energy tailgate.

Reasonably top fee interior finishes signify the Lynk & Co 900 as extra opulent than the Hyundai Palisade, however maybe no longer as lush as a Volvo XC90—pricing would doubtlessly sit between those automobiles. Technology involves 30-lunge shows fitted in each the first and 2d rows; 180-degree swivelling support seats are no longer seemingly for Australia in consequence of local create guidelines.

Identical old equipment involves digicam-predictive twin-chamber air suspension, four-wheel steering, heated/cooled/massaging seats, a refrigerator, 31-speaker Harman-Kardon stereo, Apple CarPlay connectivity, and progressed driver assistance.

While the executive designers of Zeekr and Lynk & Co respectively each informed media on the eve of Auto Shanghai 2025 that the producers intend their styling to diverge, the create of the 900 looks ready-made for Zeekr rebadging.

In mainland China, the build the Lynk & Co 900 has moral been released, four variants are supplied with Chinese language pricing between 330,000 RMB ($70,000 AUD) and 435,000 RMB ($92,000 AUD). Native pricing could additionally birth below $100,000.

Chinese language investors can make a possibility from two classic powertrains: the first is a 1.5-litre turbo petrol making 140kW, paired with a 44.85kWh battery, a entrance electric motor making 160kW, and a rear motor making 230kW for claimed most machine output of 530kW.

The extra upmarket powertrain relies mostly on a 2.0-litre turbo petrol producing 187kW. A 52.38kWh battery is subbed in; the entrance motor looks to be to own reduced output of 123kW whereas the rear motor retains its 230kW. Claimed machine output is 540kW.

A most well-known distinction between the powertrains is electric range and charging time, with the simpler battery also working at elevated voltage. Electric-easiest range could most seemingly be about 180km for the 44kWh battery and 220km with the 52kWh option, each WLTP.

Hasty charging functionality is supported, with claimed worth times for a 20-80 percent session measuring 26 minutes with the small battery (replenishing about 108km) however moral 17 minutes for the simpler pack (replenishing about 132km).

A excellent decision on whether or no longer to bring the Lynk & Co 900 to Australia is anticipated to be made this twelve months.