Zeekr 8X SUV hits the market with massive power and global goals
Zeekr is one of those Chinese brands clearly showing zero interest in slowing down. The brand officially launched its new 8X SUV, and it brings some eye-popping numbers to the table. Some companies focus on small city cars, but Zeekr wants to conquer the luxury market with size and speed. Geely Automobile Group CEO Gan Jiayue shared that this new model, along with its bigger brother, the Zeekr 9X, will soon travel far beyond China. The company plans to start shipping these EVs to overseas markets as early as the third quarter of 2026.
If you like a good deal, Zeekr is playing the pricing game quite aggressively. The 8X starts with a special limited-time price of RMB 329,800, which is about £33,300. If you want the absolute best version, the price goes up to RMB 473,800, or roughly £47,900. It is funny how "limited-time" offers always seem to appear right at launch, but a £4,700 discount from the original pre-sale price is hard to ignore. This pricing puts the Zeekr 8X right in the middle of the fight for wealthy Chinese buyers who want luxury without the typical gas-guzzler reputation.
Zeekr builds this SUV on a very advanced 900V platform called Haohan-S, which allows the car to handle massive amounts of power. The top-shelf Yao Ying version is basically a rocket ship disguised as a family car. It uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine paired with multiple electric motors to produce a staggering 1030 kW - that is about 1,380 horsepower. Most family SUVs struggle to reach highway speeds in ten seconds, but the Zeekr 8X screams from 0 to 62 mph in 2.96 seconds. Even the "slow" dual-motor versions still offer 660 kW and hit the 62 mph mark in 3.7 seconds.
When it comes to size, the Zeekr 8X does not hide in a parking lot. It measures 200.8 inches long, 78.7 inches wide, and 70.1 inches tall. With a wheelbase of 120.8 inches, there is plenty of room inside for everyone to stretch their legs. The design is clean but bold. The tall, upright front grille and a split headlight system give the 8X a modern look. The small bump in the roof hides the LiDAR unit, which acts like the car's eyes to help it drive safely and park itself.
Battery technology is where this vehicle really shows its brawn. It has a 70 kWh battery pack that supports "6C" fast charging - if you find a powerful enough charger, you can go from 20% to 80% battery in about 9 minutes. On a full charge and a full tank of gas, the 8X can travel up to 880 miles. If you decide to drive only on electricity, it has a range of up to 255 miles.
The interior looks more like a high-end lounge than a traditional car cabin. Zeekr packed the 8X with screens, including a massive central display and extra screens for people in the back. If you buy the more expensive trims, the rear seats turn into "aviation-style" chairs that can recline and even have leg supports that fold out. It is perfect for people who would rather be driven than do the driving themselves. If you need to carry gear instead of people, folding the seats opens up 2200 liters of storage space.
The Zeekr 8X uses two Nvidia Drive Thor-U processors. These chips are the "brains" of the car, providing 1400 TOPS of computing power. This hardware helps the SUV handle highway navigation and automatic parking with ease. To keep the ride smooth, Zeekr added an adaptive air suspension system that can change the height of the car and adjust how soft or firm the ride feels depending on the road conditions. It constantly monitors the road to make sure passengers do not feel every bump and pothole.
Zeekr is positioning the 8X right below its flagship, the Zeekr 9X. The 9X has already seen some success, with sales jumping from under 700 units in late 2025 to over 10,000 units by March 2026. The company hopes the 8X will follow the same path as it targets global buyers. Of course, the price won't be as attractive when the 8X lands in Europe, but it will be relatively competitive.
Reader comments
Nothing yet. Be the first to comment.