Avatr T09 six-seat SUV confirmed for Australia

Chinese luxury car brand Avatr, which is set to launch in Australia with two midsize models next year, has confirmed its new T09 flagship SUV will launch locally in 2028 following its world premiere today in Paris.

The imposing six-seater will become the largest vehicle in the Avatr range, bringing a new plug-in hybrid system, a bigger battery than some found in dedicated EVs, impressive chassis technology and an ambitious suite of driver assistance features.

Although Avatr described the vehicle unveiled in Paris as a concept, the T09 is much closer to production than that label suggests.

Detailed Chinese specifications have already appeared in government filings, revealing dimensions, seating arrangements and two hybrid powertrain options.

At 5285mm long, the T09 is larger than a BMW X7 or Mercedes-Benz GLS. It ushers in a more imposing, traditional luxury design direction for Avatr, which has concentrated until now on lower and more aerodynamically styled vehicles.

Even by luxury SUV standards the T09 is an unusually large proposition, measuring over two metres wide and up to 1820mm tall depending on the specification.

It’s a true land-yacht – a character also communicated by its upright nose, extravagant detailing, and the unusual deployment of a bonnet ornament that sits above a grille, brandishing hundreds of tiny Avatr logos.

This model is the first of a more formal luxury product line that will sit alongside Avatr’s sportier, more expressive existing models, which appear to target buyers looking for driving dynamics, not just luxury.

So the new Avatr T09 bucks this trend and goes for pure luxury and is designed to give the Changan Group brand a leg up in China’s increasingly contested chauffeur-driven family car space.

Underneath, the T09 combines technology from Changan, battery supplier CATL, and Chinese electronics giant Huawei, which has supplied its Qiankun ADS 5 driver-assistance system.

But this likely poses a significant challenge for the Australian launch as the T09’s deep use of Huawei tech raises questions about compatibility with Australian data regulations.

Avatr is expected to modify elements of its infotainment and safety systems for export markets, potentially leaving Australian buyers with different functionality to their Chinese counterparts.

Two plug-in hybrid outputs will be offered: a dual-motor/1.5-litre model promising 490kW, and a triple-motor/2.0-litre unit producing 630kW – the latter weighing over three tonnes.

Both versions use a 71.2kWh CATL ternary lithium-ion battery with Chinese filings specifying 300-330km of electric-only driving range.

The new ‘Super Hybrid’ system can operate in pure-electric, hybrid, or range-extender modes.

Chassis hardware includes dual-chamber air suspension, rear-wheel steering and crab-walk functionality, with Avatr claiming a turning circle in the four-metre range – one third that of most vehicles this size.

The T09 is being positioned around the 500,000 RMB mark in China ($109,000) ahead of its late-2026 launch in that market.

It’ll be interesting to see how local Aussie pricing evolves, as the three-row Chinese luxury SUV market will start rolling out locally with rivals likely set to include the Zeekr 9X and Leapmotor D19 soon.

The Avatr T09 will arrive third or fourth for the brand locally behind the already confirmed 07L SUV and 06T station wagon.

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