AUSTRALIA’S FASTEST-CHARGING LUXURY EV UNVEILED
Zeekr’s new all-electric 7X SUV sets a bold benchmark for premium EVs in Australia, with world-first battery tech and a 13-minute fast charge.
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Luxury goes electric – at speed. Chinese-Swedish marque Zeekr has officially launched the 7X in Australia, positioning it as the country’s first mid-sized luxury electric SUV tailored for modern families. But this is no ordinary EV.
The Zeekr 7X arrives with the world-first Golden Battery – a breakthrough in ultra-fast charging technology that propels the vehicle from 10 to 80 per cent in just 13 minutes.
Unveiled today at the Australian Museum in Sydney, the Zeekr 7X represents a sophisticated fusion of Scandinavian design, next-gen digital integration and high-performance engineering.
With pricing starting at $57,900 (plus on-road costs), the model offers three variants: a single-motor Rear-Wheel Drive, Long-Range Rear-Wheel Drive, and the flagship dual-motor Performance All-Wheel Drive, which delivers a blistering 0–100km/h in 3.8 seconds.
Luxury, Reimagined
Designed in Zeekr’s Gothenburg studio, alongside stablemates Volvo, Polestar and Lotus, the 7X is based on Geely’s SEA platform and features a minimalist exterior marked by sleek surfaces, sculpted lines and full-width LED lighting.
Inside, it’s a sanctuary of luxe detailing, advanced technology and serious space. Despite its mid-size status, it offers the roominess of a full-size SUV and 539L of rear boot space, with up to 62L front storage in RWD models.
Cabin luxuries include power-operated doors, ventilated massage seats and premium materials across all touchpoints—particularly on the Performance AWD variant.
A Cockpit from the Future
As a software-defined vehicle, the 7X is built around digital smarts. It runs Qualcomm’s lightning-fast Snapdragon 8295 chip, making it the most powerful Zeekr yet. The 16-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system is matched by an optional 36.2-inch AR head-up display that overlays navigation and alerts into the driver’s field of view.
Safety technology is comprehensive, with 12 cameras and radar enabling features such as Adaptive Cruise Control, 3D surround-view monitoring, cross-traffic alerts and full automatic park assist.
Over-the-air software updates promise to keep the vehicle’s systems continuously evolving.
Performance Meets Practicality
With up to 615km of range (WLTP), the Long-Range RWD model is ideal for extended family road trips, while the AWD Performance trim offers serious muscle with 475kW of power and 710Nm of torque. The active air suspension system with 45mm lift capacity ensures off-road capability to match the on-road presence.
Unrivalled Charging Speed
Underpinning the Zeekr 7X’s headline charging time is an 800V electrical architecture, future-proofed to handle 450kW DC rates as infrastructure evolves. Even today, using a 360kW charger, drivers can add hundreds of kilometres of range in under a quarter of an hour.
Home charging is just as impressive. A standard 22kW onboard AC charger enables a full charge (10–100%) in 4.5 hours for the standard RWD model.
Pre-Order Incentives
To celebrate the launch, Zeekr is offering exclusive bonuses to the first 1,000 Australian customers, including:
- Complimentary 7kW home charger
- Portable charging cables (Type 2 and Mini)
- Free choice of exterior and interior colours
- Seven-year vehicle warranty and roadside assistance
The Zeekr Era Arrives
With more than 520,000 EVs sold globally since its debut in 2021, Zeekr is rapidly becoming a heavyweight in electric mobility. The 7X joins the local lineup ahead of the Zeekr X and Zeekr 009 later this year, signalling the brand’s serious ambitions for the Australian market.
“The Zeekr 7X delivers the kind of intelligent design, long-range confidence, and ultra-fast charging that Australian drivers are looking for,” said Frank Li, Vice President of Zeekr International and Managing Director of Zeekr Australia.
“It’s engineered for modern families but with the refinement and technology you’d expect from a premium EV.”
A long-standing cultural cruise and a new expedition-style offering will soon operate side by side in French Polynesia.
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A long-standing cultural cruise and a new expedition-style offering will soon operate side by side in French Polynesia.
3 minFrom late 2026 and into 2027, PONANT Explorations Group will base two ships in French Polynesia, offering travellers a choice between a culturally immersive classic and a far more exploratory deep-Pacific experience.
The move builds on more than 25 years of operating in the region with the iconic m/s Paul Gauguin, while introducing the expedition-focused Le Jacques Cartier to venture into lesser-known waters.
Together, the two vessels will cover all five Polynesian archipelagos — the Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier and Marquesas Islands — as well as the remote Pitcairn Islands.
THE PAUL GAUGUIN: CULTURAL IMMERSION, POLYNESIAN STYLE
Long regarded as the benchmark for cruising in French Polynesia, m/s Paul Gauguin will remain based year-round in the region.
Renovated in 2025, the ship continues to focus on relaxed, culturally rich journeys with extended port stays designed to allow guests to experience daily life across the islands.
A defining feature of the onboard experience is the presence of the Gauguins and Gauguines — Polynesian hosts who share local traditions through music, dance and hands-on workshops, including weaving and craft demonstrations.
The atmosphere is deliberately intimate and internationally minded, catering to travellers seeking depth rather than distance.
Across the 2026–27 seasons, the ship will operate 66 departures, primarily across the Society Islands, Tuamotu and Marquesas, with select voyages extending to Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
LE JACQUES CARTIER: EXPLORATION AT THE EDGE
Le Jacques Cartier introduces a more adventurous dimension to PONANT’s Polynesian offering, with itineraries focused on the least visited corners of the South Pacific.
The ship will debut three new “Discovery” itineraries, each 14 nights in length, which can also be combined into a single, extended 42-night voyage — the most comprehensive Polynesian itinerary currently available.
In total, the combined journey spans six archipelagos, 23 islands and the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory rarely included on cruise itineraries.
Unlike the Paul Gauguin’s cultural focus, Le Jacques Cartier centres on exploration.
Each day includes one guided activity led by local experts, with excursions conducted via tenders, local boats and zodiacs. Scuba diving is available on board, supported by a resident instructor.
Across the 2026–27 period, the ship will operate nine departures, offering a deliberately limited and low-impact presence in some of the Pacific’s most isolated communities.
THREE NEW DISCOVERY ITINERARIES
The new itineraries aboard Le Jacques Cartier include:
– Secret Polynesia: Unexplored Tuamotu, the Gambier Islands and the Austral Islands
– From Confidential French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island
– Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu
Each voyage departs from Papeete, with prices starting from $15,840 per person.
SCOUTING THE PACIFIC’S MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES
In preparation for the new itineraries, PONANT Explorations Group undertook extensive scouting across the Austral and Tuamotu Islands to develop activities in collaboration with local communities.
José Sarica, the group’s R&D Expedition Experience Director, worked directly with residents to design experiences including welcome ceremonies, cultural workshops and visits to marae, the region’s sacred open-air temples.
Six new ports of call have been confirmed as part of this process, spanning both the Tuamotu and Austral archipelagos.
SIX NEW PORTS OF CALL CONFIRMED
New stopovers include:
– Mataiva, known for its rare mosaic lagoon
– Hikueru, home to one of the largest lagoons in the Tuamotus
– Makemo, noted for its red-footed boobies and frigatebirds
– Raivavae, famed for its crystal-clear lagoon pools
– Tubuai, rich in marae and spiritual heritage
– Rurutu, known for limestone caves and seasonal humpback whale sightings
A DUAL EXPERIENCE, ONE DESTINATION
By pairing its long-established cultural voyages with expedition-led exploration, PONANT Explorations Group is positioning French Polynesia not as a single experience, but as two distinct journeys — one grounded in tradition and comfort, the other pushing into the furthest reaches of the Pacific.
For travellers seeking either immersion or discovery, the South Pacific is about to feel both familiar and entirely new.
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