Zeekr confirms Super Hybrid PHEV coming to Australia in 2026, 8X most likely candidate

Sizzling on the heels of the liberate of absorbing pricing for the Zeekr 7X battery electric (BEV) crossover—a Tesla Model Y rival—the Chinese language luxury carmaker is planning to amplify from BEVs to race-in hybrids (PHEVs) in Australia.

Zeekr Australia’s fresh managing director, Frank Li, who simultaneously holds the appointment of vp of Zeekr World, has been dispatched to bustle the native outfit from Sydney.

Li’s first gargantuan pass as chief may perchance be to enhance the Zeekr lineup from three BEVs to no longer decrease than one ‘Huge Hybrid’ PHEV in 2026. This may perchance increasingly also merely nearly with out a doubt be the as-but unrevealed Zeekr 8X midsize to very massive SUV.

Additionally excessive on Zeekr’s consideration listing is the 007GT BEV site wagon, a distinct section mannequin that can perchance well allure to at the new time’s BMW 330i Touring or Audi A4 Avant clients who can’t stretch to a Porsche Taycan Disagreeable Turismo.

Li is additionally desirous about making a brash assertion by bringing the Zeekr 9X to Australia. The 9X is China’s 5239mm-long reply to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, costing about AUD$150,000 in the Chinese language market.

Nonetheless, Li and diverse Zeekr executives are keenly mindful that there are worthy more clients attempting in the sub-$100,000 midsize and enormous SUV segments, which is the achieve the 8X will play.

Zeekr 8X PHEV corporations as attach’s first hybrid for Australia

The 8X is decided to be published in humdrum 2025 for an early 2026 initiate, with notice shots revealing a boxy form and the opportunity of six seats. BEV and PHEV powertrains are deliberate for the fresh mannequin.

“I may bring some demo autos to Australia to let media and clients evaluate,” Frank Li, Zeekr Australia managing director (and head of Zeekr World) suggested Chasing Autos.

Renders of the Zeekr 8X had been sourced via Chinese language social media site ‘Weibo’ via the individual ‘SugarDesigns‘.

“A 007 GT is on the methodology. We’re going to eavesdrop on clients [and ask], if this automobile comes, will you pick out it? Are any adjustments wished? I may enact the the same part for the 8X and the 9X as wisely, and then we can originate a resolution consistent with buyer feedback,” stated Li.

The 8X PHEV mannequin would take a seat straight above the fresh 7X BEV, which has been priced from $57,900 plus on-boulevard costs to straight goal the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7, Volkswagen ID.4 and IM6.

8X more seemingly than 9X, but both below finish consideration

Pressed on whether or no longer the 8X modified into once the more seemingly Huge Hybrid PHEV to come to Australia, when when in contrast with the extremely gigantic 9X (which is decided to cost spherical $150,000 in China), Zeekr boss Li agreed.

“Referring to the quantity standpoint, the 8X no doubt may perchance perchance well maintain more [sales] quantity than 9X.

“9X is an higher-massive SUV. But referring to attach positioning, 9X is a product that reveals what luxury is—like a halo automobile, like our 009 Sizable. Both [9X and 8X] are gargantuan. It is miles tough to resolve,” Li stated.

A 2026 liberate window for the first hybrid modified into once confirmed by Zeekr Australia’s head of possession abilities Matt McCroarey, who beforehand worked at Polestar.

“Will we herald Huge Hybrids, which Zeekr already has? We’re going to guarantee there may perchance be something that comes subsequent year,” McCroarey suggested Chasing Autos.

Huge Hybrid has change into something of a generic commerce title for race-in hybrid (PHEV) autos with fluctuate exceeding 100km or thereabouts.

Whereas the 9X would require heavy re-engineering in uncover for it to be inbuilt lawful-hand force (RHD), the 8X is continuously ready to pass from the originate. Like the 7X BEV, RHD is known to had been section of the 8X belief.