Who says SUVs can't swim? China's Jetour Zongheng G700 crossed the mighty Yangtze River in 22 minutes with its amphibious technology, showing the world that it's not just another metal object on four wheels.
If you thought the greatest adventure of your SUV driving on muddy gravel until the weekend, then you will Jetour Zongheng G700 China's answer to James Bond crossed the 1.2-kilometer-wide Yangtze River and remained drier than your wallet after a service visit.
Amphibious Odyssey: From Wuhu to History
Coming from the garage of Chery (read: the Chinese auto giant), the Jetour Zongheng G700 made history on October 16, 2025 as the first SUV to cross the Yangtze River on water—and without the aid of a paddle or some hidden cartoon underwater motor. It took off from the ferry terminal in Wuhu, which is also—coincidentally—the company’s headquarters. If you’ve ever been looking for the perfect location to test an amphibious vehicle, you’ve just found it.
The 1,480-meter journey (because the Chinese are apparently precise down to the last meter) took 22 minutes. The SUV swam across a 1.2-kilometer-wide river, successfully battling currents of up to 10 km/h while maintaining stability and a speed of about 7 km/h. If the vehicle had Facebook, it would probably like this feat for itself.
Technology that's almost as cunning as a cat in the sun
This amphibious spectacle is powered by some technological goodies that would make even James Bond's Aston Martin jealous. The Zongheng G700 has a body without seams or holes (i.e. without those annoying places where rust usually collects), an active air circulation system, and an 800-volt powertrain with a silicon carbide battery. In other words: the vehicle is more sealed than your grandmother's pantry from mice.
Stability on the water is ensured by a six-axis gyroscope that constantly corrects the vehicle's position. If we had such a gyroscope in our everyday lives, we would probably find it easier to maintain our balance after a Friday night out at the bar.
Under the hood: power you feel in your bones
The Jetour Zongheng G700 is basically a large luxury plug-in hybrid SUV that can submerge up to one meter deep and stay there for up to 40 minutes. It is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with 208 horsepower and 340 Nm of torque, and together with the electric motors, the total power is 751 hp and 795 Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds - which means you will be the first at the traffic light, even if you are being chased by a shark.
The vehicle has a 100-liter tank and a CATL battery with a capacity of 34 kWh, which gives it an electric range of 150 km. The total range with a full tank and battery is 1,400 km – enough for this SUV to take you from Ljubljana to Paris and back, and in between, a quick swim across the Danube.
Available in four flavors, for the price of a solid apartment
In the Chinese market, the Jetour Zongheng G700 will be available in four versions, with prices ranging from around 42,000 to 52,000 euros. So if you've always wanted a car that can drive into water, now you know what to put on your wish list.
Conclusion: Jetour Zongheng G700
The Jetour Zongheng G700 is proof that the future of mobility can be a little wet, fun and full of innovation. If the next generation of SUVs can fly, then we can really expect traffic jams to become a thing of the past. Until then – who said SUVs can’t go in the water?
