Forget everything you thought about hybrids. The Zeekr 8X comes with a thousand kilowatts of power, supercar acceleration, and a range that could get you from Ljubljana to Berlin without stopping for coffee.
In a world where European manufacturers have convinced us that a three-cylinder engine with an auxiliary electric motor is the “highest technology”, the Chinese have apparently said: “Hand us a beer.” I present to you Zeekr 8XThis isn't just another SUV; it's a technological manifesto on wheels, with enough power to power a small Slovenian village while also carrying a drinks cooler and three folding bikes in the trunk.
To be honest, when I first heard about the numbers on this car, I thought it was a typo. But it wasn't. The Chinese are no longer joking – they are winning. And while Stuttgart is still arguing about how many buttons should remain on the steering wheel, Zeekr is launching a monster that will leave the European elite in a cloud of (electric) dust.
Family hierarchy: From city sprinter to royal cruiser
To understand exactly where Zeekr 8X stands, we need to look at the bigger picture of their fleet, which is growing faster than inflation. At the bottom (in terms of size, not quality) we have Zeekr 7X, which is their answer to the Tesla Model Y – a great, compact electric SUV for everyday use. At the very top is the Zeekr 9X, an ultra-luxury “fortress” that rivals a Rolls-Royce Cullinan or Range Rover in size and prestige.
Megawatts of power under the hood (and everywhere else)
The heart of this monster is a plug-in hybrid system (PHEV), which Jeremy Clarkson would probably describe in one word: “POWERRRRR!"The basis is a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with 205 kW (275 hp), which serves as a kind of orchestra conductor. But the real magic happens when it is joined by three electric motors. The total system output is an incredible 1,030 kW (1,381 hp).
Yes, you read that right. Megawatts of power. This allows this 2.8-ton behemoth to rocket to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a mere 2.96 seconds. That’s faster than most people can say “What just happened?” Top speed is electronically limited to 230 km/h (143 mph), which is more than enough to scare the heck out of a proud Porsche owner on a stretch of German autobahn.
A chassis that reads your mind (and the road)
Zeekr 8X doesn't just rely on raw power. It's built on the new SEA-S architecture, which includes the so-called Haohan AI Digital Chassis. This is a system that uses artificial intelligence to manage the dual-chamber air suspension, 48V active stabilizers and CDC (Continuous Damping Control). The result? A car that leans less in corners than your mother-in-law after her third glass of Refosch, while also absorbing bumps like you're driving on a cloud.
"This is a car that redefines the boundaries of physics. When you step on the gas pedal, you don't feel like you're accelerating, but that the world around you is moving backwards," some enthusiastic tester would probably write.
| Specification | Data |
| System power | 1,030 kW (1,381 hp) |
| Torque | Not specified, but we assume over 1,500 Nm (1,106 lb-ft) |
| Acceleration 0–100 km/h | 2.96 seconds |
| Final speed | 230 km/h (143 mph) |
| Battery (NMC) | 55.1 kWh or 70.0 kWh |
| Electric range (CLTC) | Up to 328 km (204 miles) |
| Total reach | Up to 1,416 km (880 miles) |
| Charging speed | 6C (20 % – 80 % in 9 minutes) |
| Length / Wheelbase | 5,100mm / 3,069mm |
Interior: A palace on four wheels
Stepping into the Zeekr 8X is like stepping into a futuristic living room. Forget cheap plastic; Nappa leather, a 44-inch AR-HUD (head-up display) and a 29-speaker Naim Palace audio system reign supreme. For those who like to snack on the go, there's a 9.5-litre fridge that can both heat and cool.
Safety and autonomy are two separate things. With a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor and a 700 TOPS Nvidia Drive Thor-U processor, the Zeekr 8X not only drives itself, but practically predicts the future. The G-ASD (Geely Afari Smart Driving) system uses advanced models to recognize the surroundings, meaning the car is ready for Level 3 autonomous driving.
Conclusion: Is this the end of European dominance?
The Zeekr 8X is a dangerous car. Not because it's dangerous for the driver, but because it's dangerous for the status quo. When it hits European roads (and believe me, it will), buyers will be BMW X5 M or Mercedes-Benz GLE began to seriously doubt their decisions.
Why pay twice as much for a brand name when you can get megawatts of power, a range that eliminates charging anxiety, and an interior that would be the envy of five-star hotels? Prices in the Chinese market start at around 430,000 yuan (approx. 55,000 EUR), while fully equipped versions exceed 550,000 yuan (approx. 70,000 EUR). Even if those figures double in Europe due to duties, it's still an incredible deal for what you get.
My personal opinion? Zeekr The 8X is proof that the Chinese have stopped learning from us and started teaching us how to build cars for the 21st century. Is it a bit pointless? Sure. Is it overpowered? Absolutely. But that's exactly its charm. In a world of boring electric boxes, the Zeekr 8X is refreshing, brutal, and unashamedly good.
