Zeekr is doubling its New Zealand lineup with three luxury models—the 9X and 8X super hybrids and the 7GT wagon—aiming at premium European rivals and introducing its lineup to local drivers at a snow-driving event near Queenstown this month.
Less than a year after launching in New Zealand with a strictly battery-electric lineup, the brand is expanding its footprint by entering the luxury hybrid and wagon segments. The upcoming arrivals, featuring long electric-only ranges alongside traditional combustion engines, were confirmed following dealer documentation pointing to the 7GT, 8X, and 9X as the next phase of local expansion.
Zeekr 9X Flagship Targets Rolls-Royce and Bentley
At the top of the incoming range sits the 9X, a three-row, six-seat flagship designed to compete directly with established ultra-luxury names.
“This is the new halo product for Zeekr, and it really demonstrates the ambition of the brand and where it’s heading.”
Michael Jones, Zeekr NZ brand manager
Underneath its luxury exterior, the 9X utilizes a 900-volt architecture pairing a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with dual or triple electric motors. The top-tier triple-motor specification produces an output of 1030kW and 1410Nm, pushing the heavy SUV from zero to 100 km/h in 3.1 seconds. Lower dual-motor versions generate 600kW and 935Nm. Battery options include 55kWh and 70kWh configurations, with the CATL-supplied 70kWh version supporting a 20 to 80% charge in roughly nine minutes and delivering up to 300km of electric-only range.
Challenging Brand Loyalty and Pricing Expectations
Positioning a newcomer against six-figure European vehicles involves testing traditional buyer habits. Zeekr New Zealand brand manager Michael Jones noted that ultra-luxury buyers traditionally exhibit strong allegiance to heritage names.
“With advanced product and technology, does brand loyalty have a price point? When you get into three, four or five-hundred thousand dollars for a Bentayga or Rolls-Royce, versus where 9X could actually be positioned, it starts to get customers asking that question. Where is that point? That’s the exciting part.”
Michael Jones, Zeekr NZ brand manager
Final specifications, towing figures, and Australian Design Rules testing are currently underway.
The Sporty 8X and the Sleek 7GT Wagon
Joining the flagship is the 8X, a slightly smaller five- or six-seat luxury SUV sharing the same platform and super hybrid powertrains. Measuring 5100mm in length—about 139mm shorter than the 9X—the 8X is characterized by Jones as slightly smaller and more of a sporty orientation
with potential rivals including the Range Rover Sport and Audi Q7. Arrival timing for the 8X remains fluid, with local introduction expected sometime in 2027.
Meanwhile, the 7GT wagon offers an alternative to traditional high-riding utility vehicles. Built on the platform of the existing 7X SUV, the five-seat shooting brake provides single-motor rear-wheel-drive or dual-motor all-wheel-drive configurations. Battery choices span a 75kWh LFP unit or a 100kWh NMC pack, offering WLTP ranges reaching up to 655km and power outputs between 335kW and 500kW. Jones expects the wagon to draw buyers looking for practicality away from both sedans and standard SUVs.
“We see it pulling volume up from something like a Tesla Model 3, but also pulling down form established premium brands. I think wagons are making a comeback. It looks cool.”
Michael Jones, Zeekr NZ brand manager
Ice Driving and Local Launch Timelines
Ahead of formal showroom arrivals slated for late this year or early 2027, Zeekr is hosting its first Southern Hemisphere driving event at the Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground near Queenstown. Attendees can experience the future lineup on ice and snow circuits alongside current models. Because left-hand-drive pre-production models are currently utilized before right-hand-drive manufacturing begins, drivers pay $5500 per person for the two-night resort package, while spectator packages are also available.
Interested buyers can register for updates through Giltrap dealerships located in Grey Lynn and Wairau Valley as the brand approaches its one-year anniversary in New Zealand, where it has recorded 434 year-to-date sales as the seventh-most-popular battery-electric brand.
