Electric vehicle maker Zeekr has introduced a new hybrid platform called SEA-S, which it says is the world’s first full-stack 900-volt high-voltage hybrid architecture designed for luxury vehicles. Pre-sales for the platform’s first model, the Zeekr 9X SUV, will begin at the Chengdu auto show in late August, the company announced on Wednesday.
The SEA-S platform is engineered to deliver high performance and efficiency, featuring a tri-silicon carbide motor setup and a hybrid battery supplied by CATL. Zeekr said the system enables seamless transitions between electric driving in urban settings and high-performance or long-range driving, aiming to address range anxiety for premium customers.
The Zeekr 9X, a full-size luxury SUV, will be the first production model built on the SEA-S platform. With a peak output of 1,030 kW and up to 1,400 horsepower, the SUV can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.1 seconds, according to the company. The powertrain includes a 2.0T engine with a thermal efficiency above 46% and a battery capacity of 70 kWh, giving it a pure electric CLTC range of up to 380 kilometers. When fully fueled and charged, the combined range exceeds 1,000 kilometers.
“The SEA-S is the industry’s first luxury hybrid-exclusive platform built on a pure electric architecture,” Zeekr said in a statement. “It marks a breakthrough in performance, energy efficiency, and driving experience.”
The SUV supports ultra-fast charging with a 6C rate, reaching 80% charge from 20% in about nine minutes. It will also debut Zeekr’s latest G-Pilot H9 autonomous driving system, featuring L3 capabilities powered by dual Nvidia Thor chips delivering 1,400 TOPS of computing power. The system is supported by five LiDAR sensors capable of detecting objects up to 300 meters away.
While Zeekr did not confirm pricing at the event, a company spokesperson previously stated that the Zeekr 9X is expected to launch in the third quarter, with a starting price around RMB 600,000 ($83,560).
The Zeekr 9X was first revealed during the Shanghai auto show in April. At the time, the company described its hybrid system as a disruptive innovation that combines the strengths of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) to elevate performance and driving experience.