On December 23, the Lynk & Co brand officially launched its second all-electric vehicle, the Lynk Z20. Priced starting at 135,900 yuan, it garnered considerable attention in the online spaceHowever, the spotlight shifted dramatically during the launch event's conclusion when CEO An Conghui introduced a tantalizing "One More Thing." He announced that a new "large SUV" from Lynk & Co would make its debut in early next year, characterized by its exclusive architecture designed specifically for large vehicles and classified as a high-end plug-in hybrid SUV.

This announcement marks the third formal unveiling of a "large SUV" within the Geely brand ecosystem in recent monthsBack in August, at the Geely Auto 2024 mid-term performance briefing, An hinted at the upcoming release of a "large SUV" under the Zeekr brand, expected to launch in the third quarter of 2025. Following that, on December 12, Geely’s PR chief took to Weibo to share that a "full-size SUV" from the Geely Galaxy brand would be showcased in the second half of 2025. Bringing the three brands into focus — Lynk & Co, Zeekr, and Galaxy — one can predict that Geely Group's strategy in 2025 will revolve around these large SUVs.

Unquestionably, the imminent releases of these three large SUVs from Geely Group will be positioned as competitors against the likes of the AITO and Li Auto offerings

The anticipated comparison of Geely’s "Large SUV Trio" with the AITO M7/M9 and Li Auto L8/L9 is poised to capture significant market interest and could reshape the prevailing automotive landscape by 2025. Nevertheless, before becoming formidable challengers, it is crucial for these large SUVs to prove their own robustness and competitiveness.

The Three Horsemen

The large SUVs from the Galaxy, Lynk & Co, and Zeekr brands are still in their nascent stages of evolution, with only limited information filtering through digital channelsNotably, the Lynk large SUV has seen the most leaks, including spy shots of actual road-testing prototypes, whereas details regarding the Zeekr large SUV have also trickled out concerning its performance capabilities.

The Galaxy brand's large SUV design can draw some inspiration from the "Galaxy Starship Concept Car," showcased at the Beijing Auto Show

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The prototype boasts a high level of design expertise, and it is anticipated that the production vehicle due in 2025 will closely mirror this initial design.

The Galaxy L9: A Prototype Comes to Life

During the Beijing Auto Show, the "Galaxy Starship SUV Prototype" made headlines with its polished internal and external design, hinting strongly that the production version due for launch will maintain a similar aestheticIt is expected that the production model will carry the name "Galaxy L9." The design of the Galaxy Starship prototype echoes the existing family traits of the Galaxy lineup — these include continuous lighting elements and a closed front fasciaNonetheless, the design shows off larger lighting fixtures and more intricate details, clearly reflecting its status as a "flagship" model.

The overall silhouette of the prototype leans towards a smooth and elegant style, reminiscent of the Maybach SUV, rather than the rugged format typical of a Range Rover

The prototype also features intriguing design elements, such as a combination of "swan doors" and "gullwing doors," though it remains unclear whether these will be retained for the mass-produced variant.

In terms of technological capabilities, Geely asserts that the Galaxy Starship prototype is built on a new "GEA" architecture claiming to be an "AI Intelligent Architecture." According to Geely's descriptions, the prototype’s cabin showcases advanced voice interaction features, enabling users to adjust seating based on voice commandsEnhanced by a digital chassis, the Galaxy Starship prototype's chassis boasts a remarkable response time of just 4 milliseconds, purportedly featuring capabilities such as "automatic obstacle avoidance." However, it remains to be seen how these features translate into practical applications upon the vehicle's commercial release.

More tangibly beneficial is the expected powertrain

The Galaxy Starship prototype will be equipped with the next-generation "Thunder God Electric Hybrid" system, leveraging a highly efficient engine with a thermal efficiency of 46% and a combined range approaching the remarkable 2,000-kilometer mark.

Combining all this information, a rough outline of the "Galaxy L9" can be pieced together: its design and dimensions will reflect the prototype closely, while the cabin features will strive to be more pragmatic rather than overly futuristic; it is likely to include some degree of intelligent chassis technology but probably won't stretch to advanced features like drive-by-wire systems; and finally, the projected operational range will likely hover around 2,000 kilometers.

It is evident that the standout feature of the Galaxy L9 will be its competitive pricing for high-end configurations.

Lynk L946: The "Hangzhou Bay Range Rover"

Lynk & Co's large SUV has, ironically, garnered the most verified information despite being the last to be officially acknowledged

Initially, during the "Co-Guest" event, a silhouette image was revealed that hinted at the side profile and partial lighting elements of Lynk’s large SUVObservers have commented on its long yet straight body silhouette, dubbing it the "Hangzhou Bay Range Rover." The headlight design appears to align more closely with the Zeekr 009 rather than the Lynk 08, while the tail light styling bears resemblance to the Lynk Z10.

Reports suggest that the developmental codename for Lynk's "large SUV" is L946, which has already entered road-testing phases.

Despite being heavily camouflaged, observers have noted the distinct rectangular body outline, frameless mirrors, turret-like laser radar, and horizontal rim design revealed through various spy shotsAdditional photographs indicate that the L946 is a "three-row SUV," with future offerings possibly available in both 6 and 7-seat configurations.

Essentially, the L946 represents a significant divergence from the Lynk 09 EM-P and Lynk 08 due to its "completely new architecture" — one derived from the SPA Evo platform, while the Lynk 09 is based on SPA, and the Lynk 08 utilizes the CMA architecture.

The advantages of the SPA Evo platform are apparent in its size; it builds upon the SPA framework, increasing wheelbase dimensions beyond 3000mm, establishing a sturdy foundation for large vehicle design.

Moreover, a key feature of the SPA Evo architecture is its shortening of the "L113," the distance from the front wheel center to the foot and brake pedal contact point, maximizing the usable space within the passenger cabin

Additionally, compared to the SPA platform, SPA Evo allows for larger battery capacity to be incorporated into the vehicles.

Rumors indicate that the Lynk L946 is poised to house a hybrid powertrain based on a 2.0T engine, potentially supported by a battery pack with a capacity as high as 50kWh; the rear axle may include dual motors alongside the wheels, creating a "three-motor" power system and possibly integrating air suspension.

Zeekr EX1E: The Double-Power Flagship

On the Zeekr side, concrete details remain scarce about their "large SUV," which has not yet been spotted on test routesCurrently, the known elements are threefold: it will feature dual power options of pure electric and hybrid, is expected to be among the first to incorporate Thor chips, and is set to debut in the third quarter of next year with a planned commercial release in the fourth quarter.

Media speculation made clear that the codename for Zeekr's large SUV consists of EX1E for the all-electric version and EX1H for the hybrid variant

At the end of October, speculative designs of the EX1E surfaced, depicting a large SUV closely reminiscent of the Zeekr 7X, complete with multimedia light strips dubbed "The Space-Time Door" located above the headlights; the vehicle's overall outline is smooth and soft, with a notably straight rear hatch door.

Meanwhile, there are predictions, based on Geely's patents, that the EX1E may feature a rear hatch similar to the "heaven and earth doors" of a Rolls Royce CullinanFor its chassis capabilities, the Zeekr EX1E may incorporate "active suspension" tech alongside rear-wheel steering for enhanced maneuverability.

Little is known about the powertrain of the EX1E/H, but the company describes its hybrid power technology as "merging the strengths of pure electric, range-extending, and hybrid systems," leaving automotive enthusiasts anticipating the specific operational mechanisms and achievable ranges.

Reviewing all the information, it’s observable that Geely Group's three large SUVs will each possess distinct attributes, aiming to showcase superior designs and material specifications

Nevertheless, adhering to the "Taizhou Declaration" which emphasizes internal resource integration and the elimination of unnecessary competitive overlap, it becomes essential for these three flagship products to exhibit differentiated positioning.

Strategies and Challenges

There's a fundamental tonal differentiation among the brands: Galaxy targets the entry-level family market, Lynk focuses on high-end new energy vehicles aimed at the mid-to-high-end market, whereas Zeekr underscores the importance of "technological luxury." Each brand name, however, does not strictly delineate the types of vehicles or power configurations, meaning Galaxy, Lynk, and Zeekr could potentially have large SUVs, each reflecting brand-specific distinctions through materials, layouts, and aesthetics.

For instance, preliminary confirmations reveal that the Lynk L946 will be equipped with air suspension and rear-wheel steering, ensuring a premium configuration, while the Zeekr EX1E might feature advanced active suspension for superior handling and comfort

Meanwhile, for the Galaxy brand’s large SUV, the finalized performance capabilities of its prototype "intelligent chassis" remain largely unknown; compared to its positioning, it could merely integrate basic road-sensing functions utilizing air suspension or variable damping shock absorbers.

When it comes to intelligent driving capabilities, the Zeekr EX1E is expected to leverage the thrumming power of the upcoming Thor chip, most likely making it the most technical savvy option, allowing for a plethora of enhanced automation featuresAt the same time, Geely's Lydia and Galaxy large SUVs are likely to employ Orin chips or their equivalent, leading to somewhat lesser intelligence possibilities.

Lastly, there’s the question of performanceGalaxy’s "Thunder God Electric Hybrid" emphasizes affordability, whereas Lynk’s EM-P scheme aims to accentuate sporty performance

As for Zeekr’s "Super Electric Hybrid," the expectations on performance and efficiency remain tantalizingly ambiguousUltimately, Geely Group’s large SUVs emerge as grooving rival products in the market.

Keenly focused on the sizeable SUV segment, the numerous brands and their технология, mixed together, yield varying results across the board.

Conclusion: The Battle for Market Share

Ultimately, the launch of the three new large SUVs under Geely represents a concerted effort to stake a claim in the growing market for premium offeringsHowever, these challengers face a heavy task of overcoming established players like AITO and Li Auto, which have built strong brand reputationsAs consumer tastes evolve and technology progresses, the upcoming releases by Geely Group will be pivotal in determining their future success within an increasingly competitive landscape.

Whether these challengers can establish themselves within the echelon of potential game-changers remains to be seen