Spy shots reveal Zeekr 8X SUV as debut delayed to next year

The Zeekr 8X hybrid SUV is expected to debut in the first quarter of next year, with pricing starting at around RMB 400,000 ($56,580).Zeekr had originally planned to launch the Zeekr 8X, its second hybrid model, in the fourth quarter of 2025.(A widely circulated spy photo on Weibo shows the Zeekr 8X.)Two spy photos have revealed Zeekr's (NYSE: ZK) new hybrid SUV, the Zeekr 8X, for the first time.Multiple automotive bloggers shared the same two spy photos on Weibo, identifying them as the Zeekr 8X -- Zeekr's second hybrid SUV following the Zeekr 9X.The model will debut in the first quarter of next year with an expected starting price of around RMB 400,000 ($56,580), while the primary sales price range is projected between RMB 450,000 and RMB 500,000, according to a report yesterday by local automotive media outlet Yiche. Join us on Telegram or Google News The Zeekr 8X will be built on the SEA-S hybrid architecture, with the top-tier version expected to feature a tri-motor powertrain and support 6C ultra-fast charging, the report noted.In May, Zeekr management said during a conference call that the Zeekr 8X hybrid SUV would be launched in the fourth quarter of 2025. This marked the brand's first public mention of the model.However, the plan was delayed as Zeekr prioritized multiple model facelifts in the latter half of this year. The launch of the updated Zeekr 007 electric sedan has also been postponed to the second quarter of 2026.On September 29, Zeekr launched the Zeekr 9X large SUV, its first hybrid model, following several battery electric vehicle (BEV) releases over the past few years.With a starting price of RMB 465,900, the Zeekr 9X is the most expensive model from a domestic brand. After applying a limited-time RMB 10,000 trade-in discount, the effective starting price drops to RMB 455,900.The model is the first built on Zeekr's SEA-S platform, featuring a 2.0T hybrid engine and utilizing a 900-volt hybrid high-voltage architecture.Its battery pack offers 55 kWh and 70 kWh options, delivering up to 380 kilometers of CLTC range and supporting 6C charging rate.On November 21, Zeekr announced that the Zeekr 9X surpassed 10,000 deliveries less than two months after its market launch.Zeekr Group (NYSE: ZK) delivered 63,902 vehicles in November, comprising 28,843 Zeekr brand units and 35,059 Lynk & Co units.Year-to-date, Zeekr Group has delivered 510,610 vehicles, representing a 12.40 percent year-on-year increase. Zeekr sees Q3 net loss drop 84.9% on rising sales, falling costs Zeekr Group reported a net loss of RMB 307 million ($43 million) in the third quarter, down 84.9 percent from RMB 2.028 billion in the third quarter 2024. ($1 = RMB 7.0695)