Custom audio system will produce as much as 3868W of output from 32 speakers and eight seat shakers.
Zeekr’s flagship 9X SUV will feature a bespoke audio system from the British high-fidelity specialist, Naim, in something of a coup for the luxury Chinese brand.
Naim’s custom sound system had previously been the exclusive reserve of Bentley, the ultra-luxury British marque behind the Continental GT, Mulsanne, and Bentayga, demonstrating the ambitions Zeekr is placing on their hybrid Range Rover rival.
The system in the Zeekr 9X is claimed to set a new global benchmark for peak power output in a production car, with total output claimed to be as high as 3868W.
The Zeekr 9X is scheduled to open for pre-orders at the upcoming Chengdu Auto Show with sales kicking off officially later in the year.
The British audio manufacturer is a highly respected name in the industry, having been a recipient of the UK’s Queen’s Award for Enterprise on three occasions.
Until now, its automotive work has been solely associated with Bentley, for which it creates tailored systems for models as grand as the Flying Spur, an optional extra that can cost as much as RMB 140,000 (£14,500 / $19,500) in its best specification.
According to Zeekr, the Naim system developed for the 9X is a technically advanced setup incorporating 32 speakers and eight seat shakers, all managed through 40 independent channels.
The configuration is described as a 9.2.4.8 layout, utilising nine surround sound speakers, two subwoofers, four overhead channels, and eight dedicated headrest channels, delivering a peak power of 3868W and engineered to reproduce a frequency range from 20Hz to 40kHz.
The Zeekr 9X itself is a something of a technological tour de force, with a hybrid drivetrain boasting the world’s largest hybrid battery at 70kWh with 6C charging.
While not as large as NIO’s just announced ES8, it’s still a sizeable machine measuring 5239mm long, 2019mm to 2029mm wide, and 1819mm high, with a wheelbase of 3169mm.
Despite weighing in at metric tonnes, it’ll still race to 100kph in around three seconds thanks to a 2.0-litre engine and triple motor set up producing almost 1,400hp.
While prices haven’t yet been announced, it’s anticipated to carry a starting price of approximately RMB 600,000 (roughly £66,000 or $84,000).
The limited-run Bentley Batur, built by Mulliner, offered an optional ‘Naim for Mulliner’ audio system that Bentley described as the “most exquisite” ever, resulting from 10,000 hours of development.
That specific, highly exclusive audio option, carries a premium of RMB 242,000 (£25,000 / $33,750).
