Zeekr 7X gains bigger battery and standard adaptive damping in China for 2027

Zeekr has detailed a 2027 update for the 7X in China that adds an 85kWh lithium iron phosphate battery option and makes electromagnetic continuously controlled damping standard across the range, changes that have not carried over to the Australian-market SUV.

The Chinese-market 7X now spans three battery sizes, with CLTC range rising from 620km on the existing 75kWh LFP pack to 680km on the new 85kWh unit, according to CarExpert.

Three batteries, one range leader

The 85kWh LFP pack slots between the 75kWh LFP and 103kWh nickel manganese cobalt batteries already offered in China. The 103kWh version remains the longest-legged option at 802km on the CLTC cycle in single-motor rear-wheel drive form.

All Chinese-market 7Xs are fitted with a 900V-rated thermal management system, though Chinese outlet Xchuxing reports that only the largest of the three batteries is actually 900V-rated.

Outputs are unchanged for 2027: rear-wheel drive versions produce 370kW and 535Nm, while the dual-motor flagship makes 585kW and 812Nm.

Chassis and safety changes

The 7X keeps double-wishbone front and five-link independent rear suspension, with air suspension on up-spec variants. For 2027, electromagnetic continuously controlled damping is now standard across the range rather than reserved for those top trims.

Zeekr has also added active road noise cancellation and a system designed to stop the 7X losing control if a tyre blows out at high speed. The company claims multiple upgrades to its active safety and driver assist suite, without detailing them.

New colours, wheels and seats

Two paint finishes join the palette, Dawn Gold and Cloud Red, alongside new 19- and 21-inch alloy wheel designs. Inside, buyers can now choose a black-and-ivory colourway alongside the existing purple-and-black, purple-and-white and black-and-grey options.

The cabin layout is unchanged, but Zeekr has fitted new zero-gravity front seats and cloud comfort rear seats, added new seat stitching and applied a new coating to various buttons that the company says improves their feel.

Australia stays a step behind

The Australian-market 7X has trailed its Chinese counterpart since launching locally late in 2025, when an updated model was already reaching Chinese showrooms.

Australian cars debuted with 310kW and 440Nm in single-motor form and 475kW and 710Nm in dual-motor form, powered by 75kWh LFP and 100kWh NMC batteries. That leaves local buyers with less power and a smaller maximum battery than the Chinese-market car, which moved to the 900V 103kWh pack and more powerful motors for 2026.

Zeekr has not announced whether the 2027 changes will reach Australian showrooms.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary evaluation into seat-mounted side airbags in an estimated 1,236,155 Ford Explorer SUVs built for the 2021 through 2026 model years, following reports that deployment has caused burns.

The probe sits with the agency's Office of Defects Investigation, which has not issued a recall and has not said one will follow. Owners of affected Explorers therefore do not yet know whether their vehicle is covered by a fix.

What drivers have reported

The ODI has received eight Vehicle Owner Questionnaires and four Early Warning Reporting "Death and Injury" reports alleging burn injuries from deploying seat-mounted side airbags. No fatalities have been reported in connection with the issue.

Injuries in the filings were confined to the driver, the front passenger, or both, with no rear-passenger injuries detailed. The burns were typically diagnosed as second or third degree and required medical treatment to heal.

Some of the questionnaires describe injuries to law enforcement officers whose Police Interceptor versions of the Explorer had their side airbags deploy. That detail matters because police-spec Explorers are subject to the same investigation as civilian vehicles, so the affected population is not limited to private buyers.

What the investigation will decide

The preliminary evaluation will establish the scope and frequency of the problem and assess its safety consequences. A recall is possible but not guaranteed: the filing leaves open whether NHTSA will require one.

Until that question is settled, the practical advice for Explorer owners is to watch for a recall notice and to treat any airbag-related burn as worth reporting to the agency, since the ODI's picture of the defect is currently built from owner submissions and early warning data.

The investigation covers a large share of the current Explorer fleet, spanning six model years, which means the outcome will reach a substantial group of owners whatever the agency decides.