JAC unveils sleek De-Fine concepts

JAC Motors is a brand known, at least in Australia, for its recently introduced T9 ute and, further up the commercial vehicle food chain, its N-range of electric trucks, but the brand has shocked showgoers at the Shanghai Motor Show with two sleek new concepts.

The concepts indicate a shift into the passenger car space, with that appears to be a luxury-leaning focus, following last year’s Beijing Motor Show unveiling – and subsequent showing at the Melbourne Motor Show last month – of the De-Fine supercar concept.

JAC rolled out two models based on the Define platform (renamed from the earlier hyphenated moniker) platform: the sleek electric Refine R8 supercar and the boxy plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Define-X SUV.

While specifics were kept to a minimum, JAC did outline that the Define-S retains the supercar intent of the earlier De-Fine concept, based around a 1000-volt architecture that uses three motors to deliver 590kW.

This, JAC says, will allow the DEFINE-S to reach triple figures in a staggering 2.3 seconds – equalling the 0-100km/h time of a Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport, for context.

Beyond the power output and acceleration figures, little is known about the Define-S, but JAC did share that it will feature the latest version of its autonomous driving system and “flexible integration” of what it calls its “global intelligent technologies”.

The Define-X SUV, on the other hand, is focused less on performance and more on practicality, said to offer “an extraordinary sense of volume and fluidity while highlighting the digital interaction appeal of next-generation intelligent vehicles”.

In practical terms, we assume this means it’ll be spacious inside and suitably high-tech, with JAC confirming it’ll also score the latest autonomous driving system as well as what it calls an All-Domain By-Wire Chassis (ICDC).

The ICDC system, JAC explains, allows four-wheel vector response times of 100 milliseconds or less, with the 12 degrees of rear steering angle allowing the vehicle to “crab walk” – presumably into a parking spot.

JAC has not indicated when the models will enter production, or whether they’ll make it Down Under, but the company is clearly serious about the Australian market.

JAC revealed its Hunter PHEV ute at the Melbourne Motor Show, based on the diesel T9, offering a BYD Shark 6 competitor, which is expected to arrive locally in the first quarter of 2026.

GoAuto also obtained knowledge that two new JAC SUV models are being considered for Australia – although it is unknown exactly when they might arrive.

One will be a body-on-frame ute-based wagon based on the T9, while the other will be a monocoque chassis seven-seat wagon to rival the likes of the Toyota LandCruiser Prado with four-wheel drive and off-road fruit like locking differentials.