Chinese brand reveals yet another heavily Porsche-inspired model

SAIC, the newest brand from MG and LDV parent SAIC Motor, has revealed a new SUV that bears more than a passing resemblance to the Porsche Cayenne.

The SAIC Z9 has been revealed in a Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) filing as the brand’s third model line, following shortly after the Z7 sedan and wagon which appear heavily inspired by the Porsche Taycan.

SAIC was introduced in 2025 as SAIC Motor’s brand within the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), a collaboration between various automakers and tech giant Huawei.

Besides SAIC Motor’s SAIC (also known as Shangjie) brand, other HIMA marques include Chery’s Luxeed and JAC’s Maextro. Thus far, all of these HIMA brands have been confined to the Chinese market, but Seres’ AITO brand has confirmed its plans for export markets.

The Z9 will slot in at the top of the SAIC lineup, above the H5 SUV and Z7 range, as a large electric SUV available with both single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains.

Rear-wheel drive variants produce 280kW of power, while all-wheel drive variants gain a 175kW front electric motor.

It measures 5139mm long, 2005mm wide and 1776mm tall on a 3086mm wheelbase, making it 209mm longer than a Porsche Cayenne on a 191mm longer wheelbase; it's also 154mm longer than a Cayenne Electric on a 63mm longer wheelbase.

Unlike the Porsche Cayenne and Cayenne Electric, the SAIC Z9 will be offered with a third row of seating for a total of six seats.

Kerb weight is between 2595kg and 2794kg, while all variants use ternary lithium-ion batteries supplied by CATL. Battery capacities have yet to be disclosed.

From the slim, wide headlights and full-width rear light bar to the sculpted bonnet and prominent shoulders, there are various similarities to the Cayenne – though this isn’t a blatant copycat like the SR9 from ailing automaker Zotye.

Porsche remains an apparent source of design inspiration for various Chinese brands, even as its sales decline in the Chinese market.

To the end of September, Porsche sales are down 33 per cent in China to 21,493 units. Last year, it sold just 41,938 vehicles there, marking the fourth consecutive year of decline. It sold 95,671 vehicles there in 2021.

The fledgling SAIC brand is positioned as a more premium brand within the SAIC Motor stable, specialising in electric and extended-range electric vehicles – much like IM Motors.

Two IM models, the IM5 and IM6, are exported widely to markets such as Australia, but thus far vehicles from the SAIC brand are exclusive to China.

MORE: SAIC Z7: New EV is Taycan a lot of inspiration from Porsche