Zeekr 8X Surfaces in Official Images With Impressive Electric-Only Range

Zeekr has lifted the curtain further on its upcoming 8X plug-in hybrid SUV, releasing a fresh batch of official images that underline just how ambitious this model is shaping up to be. Set to launch in the first half of this year, the 8X will be offered in both five-seat and six-seat layouts and is built on the brand’s new SEA-S modular architecture.

While Zeekr is no stranger to bold design or big performance claims, the 8X looks positioned to blur the line between luxury SUV, long-range EV and high-output performance machine. For Australian readers watching China’s fast-moving electrified market, this is another reminder of how quickly plug-in hybrids are evolving.

▶️MORE: Zeekr 001 Tipped For Australian Launch

PreviousNext

Design that leans hard into presence

At first glance, the Zeekr 8X does not try to hide its size or status. The front end is dominated by a waterfall-style chrome grille, paired with distinctive C-shaped headlights that are anything but subtle. Each headlight unit is made up of more than 25,000 diamond-shaped facets, giving the SUV a jewellery-like lighting signature, especially at night.

Other exterior highlights include:

• Roof-mounted lidar suggesting advanced driver assistance capability
• Chrome detailing across the bumper and window surrounds
• Large wheel options ranging from 20 to 22 inches
• Red brake calipers adding a clear performance cue

Around the back, the full-width taillight mirrors the front’s complexity, using nearly 55,000 diamond-shaped facets and ultra-red lighting technology tuned to a 630 nm wavelength. Practical touches are not forgotten either, with electric side steps, conventional door handles and an electrically retractable tow bar rated for loads up to 2,000 kg.

▶️MORE: 2025 Zeekr X Price and Specs: Compact Luxury SUV To Start From $56,900

PreviousNext

The 8X sits firmly in the large SUV class. Measuring 5,100 mm long and just under two metres wide, it has the road presence to match premium seven-seat SUVs sold in Australia, even though Zeekr is opting for five and six-seat layouts instead.

A wheelbase stretching over three metres points to generous cabin space, while the claimed one-to-four wheel-to-body ratio hints at balanced proportions rather than pure bulk. Depending on specification, curb weight ranges from 2,660 kg to 2,820 kg, reflecting the substantial battery options and hardware packed underneath.

▶️MORE: Zeekr 7x Long Range Specs & Features

▶️MORE: What Zeekr Electric Cars Are Coming To Australia?

Plug-in hybrid power with serious EV credentials

Under the skin, the Zeekr 8X uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with a plug-in hybrid system, with the combustion engine alone producing 205 kW, matching the setup used in the larger Zeekr 9X.

What really sets the 8X apart, however, is its battery offering. Zeekr will use ternary lithium battery packs supplied by the CATL-Geely joint venture, with capacities of 55.1 kWh and 70 kWh. Depending on specification, the SUV delivers pure electric driving ranges of 256 km, 257 km or up to a class-defining 328 km under the WLTC test cycle, pushing it closer to full EV territory than a traditional plug-in hybrid.

▶️MORE: Every Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) in Australia 2025

PreviousNext

Official electric motor specifications are yet to be confirmed, but previous reports suggest the 8X could eventually feature a three-motor electric drive system producing as much as 1,030 kW, alongside ultra-fast 6C charging capability. If those figures are realised in production form, the 8X would sit among the most extreme electrified SUVs currently under development.

Expected launch and more

The 8X is not just another large SUV with a plug. It reflects how Chinese manufacturers are using plug-in hybrid platforms as a bridge between full EVs and traditional combustion vehicles, while still delivering meaningful electric-only range that could cover most daily driving without burning fuel. The official launch of the Zeekr 8x PHEV is expected to be in the first half of this year while the Australian launch date is unknown at the moment.

For markets like Australia, where towing capability, long-distance driving and charging infrastructure still influence buying decisions, vehicles like this hint at what the next generation of PHEVs could look like if they were ever offered locally.