Zeekr has confirmed its flagship 9X for Australia, and the numbers read like a misprint. The plug-in hybrid makes up to 1030kW and 1410Nm in tri-motor form, with a 0 to 100km/h claim of 3.1 seconds. It is due here late in 2026.

A flagship built to embarrass supercars

The 9X is a six-seat upper-large SUV measuring 5.2 metres, so this is family-hauler real estate with hypercar outputs. Buyers choose between 55kWh and 70kWh battery options, good for up to 380km of electric range on China's lenient CLTC cycle, or closer to 300km on the stricter WLTP standard. Total range tops 1250km. A 900-volt system allows a 10 to 80 per cent charge in about 10 minutes, which is quicker than most pure EVs on sale here.

Where it sits in Australia

Zeekr has not confirmed Australian pricing, so treat any figure as a guess for now. Using the local 7X as a yardstick, the 9X will land well into six figures and chase the BMW X7 and Range Rover end of the market. That is bold for a brand most Australians met a year ago. Zeekr has also locked in the smaller 8X and a 7GT electric wagon, so the 9X is the spearhead of a wider push, not a one-off halo.

The order-book warning

The 9X has already taken 50,000 orders in China since launching in late 2025. That is good for Zeekr and awkward for Australian buyers, because local allocation tends to come after the home market is fed. If you want one early, expect a wait list rather than a showroom drive-away.

Cartell Assessment

On paper the 9X makes the established luxury SUVs look slow and thirsty, and that is the point. The harder question is whether Australian buyers spending north of $130,000 will trust a three-year-old badge over a Range Rover, no matter how silly the acceleration figure is. Resale is the unknown that will decide this car, not performance. Zeekr has the product. It now needs the dealer network and the service confidence to match, because nobody drops six figures on faith alone.

AU Outlook

Expect firm pricing and specification closer to the late-2026 launch. The number to watch is not the 1030kW, it is the entry price, because that decides whether the 9X is a curiosity or a real alternative to the German and British establishment.