China’s Zeekr debuts first hybrid SUV to compete with Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Range Rover

At the Shanghai Auto Show on Wednesday, Zeekr showcased what it called “a groundbreaking model” that sets new benchmarks in design, performance, and electrification, as the company aspires to make its new offering the pinnacle of Chinese sports utility vehicles in terms of prestige and luxury. The 9X is the electric vehicle brand’s full-size flagship luxury SUV and its first plug-in hybrid model. It bears a passing resemblance to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and the Range Rover with a large, prominent front grille and 22-inch forged silver monoblock wheels.

Powered by CATL’s Freevoy hybrid battery with a 6C charge rate, the Zeekr 9X charges from 20% to 80% in just nine minutes and has an impressive all-electric range of 380 kilometers (236 miles) on a single charge. It also integrates two of NVIDIA’s DRIVE Thor chips, which together achieve 1,400 teraflops of performance (TOPs), as well as five lidar components, making it potentially capable of performing Level 3 semi-autonomous capabilities under certain conditions, according to the company.

A high-end luxury variant, called the 9X Grand, will also be available to the market at an expected price tag of RMB 1 million ($137,200), while the Rolls-Royce Cullinan has a dealer price of at least RMB 6.9 million in China, TechNode reported. [TechNode reporting]