The Zeekr 8X has officially launched in China as the smaller sibling to the 9X flagship SUV. Despite its lower number, it doesn’t skimp on size or technology, featuring a 900V plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system like the 9X, delivering range and performance that’s worthy of a flagship car. In fact, CarNewsChina reports the model has already racked up 10,000 bookings within just 30 minutes of order books opening.
Starting with the exterior, the Zeekr 8X continues to embody Zeekr’s signature design language. Up front, it features a large, upright grille flanked by split C-shaped headlights, giving it a strong and distinctive presence. Around the back, you’ll find a similarly styled rear light assembly with a full-width lightbar, complete with Zeekr’s trademark crystal-like lighting elements, just like on the 9X.
That said, the Zeekr 8X isn’t quite as boxy as its larger sibling. Instead, it adopts slightly sportier proportions, making it look closer in stance to something like a BMW X5. To match these proportions, wheel options range from 20 to 22 inches. Speaking of which, the car measures 5,100 mm in length, 1,998 mm in width, and 1,780 mm in height, with a 3,069 mm wheelbase, placing it firmly in the full-size SUV category alongside models like the Mercedes-Benz GLE, Audi Q7, and the aforementioned BMW X5.
Inside, the cabin layout will feel familiar if you’ve seen the 9X, but with a sportier twist aimed at a younger audience. Instead of a more traditional horizontal layout, the 8X adopts a freer, more flowing design that sort of wraps around the driver. Additionally, buyers can choose between a two-row, five-seat configuration or a three-row, six-seat layout with a 2-2-2 arrangement.
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The tech on offer is just as impressive as the exterior, with a 13.02-inch instrument cluster paired to a massive 44-inch head-up display, along with a 16-inch 3.5K Mini-LED central infotainment screen. There’s also an optional passenger display, as well as a 17-inch 3K OLED roof-mounted screen for rear occupants.
The car comes standard with open-pore wood trim and can be upgraded to carbon fibre trim. Adding to its hile the 29-speaker Naim sound system with Dolby Atmos promises a premium audio experience. Other highlights include a 9.5-litre heated and cooled storage compartment beneath the centre armrest, dual 50W wireless charging pads, multiple 60W and 100W USB-C ports, and full over-the-air (OTA) update capability.
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Under the skin, the Zeekr 8X shares its architecture and many of its components with the larger 9X, which Zeekr says helps streamline production and improve supply chain efficiency. Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine paired with up to three electric motors, allowing for a combined output of 1,381 hp and 1,410 Nm of torque. This enables a 0-100 km/h sprint time of just 2.96 seconds, with a top speed of 230 km/h.
As for its electronics, the Zeekr 8X features a 900V electrical architecture and is equipped with a ternary lithium (NMC) battery pack of up to 70 kWh. It offers an all-electric range of up to 268 km (WLTC), while the total combined range is rated at up to 1,037 km. Thanks to its 6C charging capability, the battery can be charged from 20 to 80% in just 9 minutes.
On the driver assistance front, the Zeekr 8X is packed with dual Snapdragon 8295 automotive chips and Nvidia Drive Thor-U processors delivering up to 1,400 TOPS of computing power. Depending on the variant, this enables a comprehensive suite of ADAS features, including highway navigation assist and automated parking functions.
In China, the Zeekr 8X is priced between RMB356,800 and RMB500,800 (approx. RM208k to RM290k). As we’ve mentioned before, the car became an instant hit, securing 10,000 bookings within just 30 minutes — an impressive figure, though still short of the 9X, which reportedly amassed over 40,000 bookings in its first hour.
Looking ahead, the 8X is expected to make its global debut as early as Q3 2026. There’s no confirmation yet on whether it will arrive in markets closer to home, but the larger 9X has already been confirmed for Malaysia between late 2026 and early 2027. When it does arrive, it is set to become the brand’s first PHEV offering here, with an estimated price range of RM700,000 to RM1,000,000.
READ MORE: Ultra-luxury Zeekr 9X coming to Malaysia late 2026 – Est. RM700k to RM1 million
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