Europe’s version of the 9X loses power from its Chinese spec but keeps the 9.5-minute charging and Rolls-Royce looks intact
- Zeekr’s 9X arrives in Europe as a six-seat luxury flagship.
- Euro-spec power drops to 897 hp from China’s wild 1,381.
- The 900-volt system charges 10 to 80 percent in 9.5 minutes.
Over the past few years, European buyers have been largely insulated from the best that China has to offer, with a good chunk of the country’s most advanced models never making the trip abroad. That’s changing fast, and Zeekr is part of the reason, having just pulled the covers off the European version of its 9X as it pushes deeper into the region.
Zeekr is aiming the 9X at the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, Audi’s new Q9, and if you’re feeling pretty generous, reaching further up the ladder at the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The styling hasn’t helped it dodge the comparison either, with more than a few observers already calling it a Chinese Rolls-Royce. Whether it belongs in that company is another question, but the spec sheet at least argues the case.
Europe gets the 9X exclusively as a six-seater, running Zeekr’s Super Hybrid twin-energy powertrain, which pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors depending on the configuration. In China, the SUV makes an outrageous 1,381 hp, though Zeekr has confirmed the Euro-spec version will be reined in to 897 hp, still plenty enough to out-muscle most vehicles in the class. Which battery Europe gets is unclear, but in China it offer both a 55.1 kWh and a 70 kWh pack.
What we do know is that thanks to the 900-volt architecture, charging from 10-80 percent takes just 9.5 minutes, and the combined ICE and electric range sits at an impressive 458 miles (737 km). The sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) is dealt with in 4.1 seconds, and the 9X will keep on accelerating through to 149 mph (240 km/h). The 9X can also tow up to 4,400 lbs (2,000 kg).
Luxury is the name of the game with the 9X. It comes standard with a 32-speaker Naim audio system and advanced LiDAR-powered driver-assistance systems that have already been designed and tested for European roads. There’s also a 47-inch head-up display, a 13-inch anti-glare infotainment screen, and a central 16-inch, 3.5k OLED infotainment system.
Luxury Personified
Zeekr has also fitted massaging seats in the front and second rows. Speaking of the second row, passengers seated back there have access to a 17-inch display that folds down from the micro-suede headliner. Once the screen folds down, the privacy blinds are activated, and the ambient lighting system works in conjunction with whatever film or show someone is watching, helping to replicate a full-on home theatre experience.
The second row also houses a refrigerator and a pair of 6.3-inch displays for the lighting, seating, entertainment, and climate. Elsewhere in the cabin there’s plenty of Nappa leather, a crystal rotary controller on the center console, and a good deal of high-end physical switchgear.
Market-specific pricing hasn’t been announced yet. What Zeekr has confirmed is the color palette, with the 9X offered in Crystal White, Lava Grey, or Onyx Black.
