Zeekr 8X chassis teardown reveals an approach to steel-aluminium body integrity

Geely‘s Zeekr 8X has recently captured attention in the mid-to-large hybrid SUV market. To uncover the engineering reality of the Zeekr 8X, Autohome conducted a comprehensive teardown of the Ultra+ version, focusing on body materials, chassis protection, and mechanical hardware.

Pricing and performance

The Zeekr 8X is officially priced between 356,800 yuan (52,500 USD) and 500,800 yuan (73,600 USD). The vehicle boasts a CLTC pure electric range of 410 km and supports 6C fast charging. The top-tier model features a tri-motor 1,381-horsepower electric drive system and debuts the G-ASD 4.0 advanced driver-assistance system.

Body materials

Rather than maximising aluminium usage, Zeekr 8X has adopted a pragmatic approach. The hood is made of aluminium to reduce front-end weight and improve pedestrian safety during collisions. Conversely, core structural components on the sides utilise steel to provide superior rigidity and reduce repair costs for minor scrapes, balancing durability with economic efficiency.

Structural protection: dual-beam layout

The front end features a dual-beam design. The main crash beam measures 1,610 mm in width, while the auxiliary beam measures 1,620 mm, covering approximately 81% of the front area to mitigate risks in offset collisions. The vehicle also incorporates an active grille shutter system to optimise engine warm-up and reduce aerodynamic drag at high speeds.

Chassis protection and battery safety

The chassis utilises a zoned protection design with fibre-reinforced panels covering the powertrain and fuel tank areas. A steel beam welded to the front subframe acts as a “front-guard” to protect the battery pack during minor bottoming-out incidents. The 70 kWh ternary lithium battery, supplied by Geely, is encased in a high-strength composite fibre plate, providing resistance against road debris. The battery pack operates at a rated voltage of 787V and weighs 408 kg.

Suspension: inheriting the Zeekr 9X architecture

The Zeekr 8X inherits the chassis architecture of the Zeekr 9X, featuring a “steel front, aluminium rear” subframe combination. The suspension system consists of an all-aluminium front double-wishbone and rear integrated multi-link (H-arm) setup.

Equipped with KH’s closed-loop dual-chamber air springs and dual-valve CCD electromagnetic dampers, the vehicle offers an 80 mm height adjustment range and a maximum ground clearance of 241 mm. The Ultra+ and higher trims include a 48V active stabiliser bar (supplied by Nidec) capable of outputting 1,400 N·m of balancing torque with a 0.2-second response time, keeping the body roll angle under 2° during high-speed cornering at 80 km/h.

Braking system

The vehicle utilises a high-performance braking setup:

• Front: Brembo fixed four-piston callipers with large ventilated discs.

• Rear: Floating single-piston callipers with ventilated discs.The system is integrated with an IPB (Intelligent Integrated Braking) system to ensure precise control and safety during emergency manoeuvres.