Geely Project KO11: Defender-style plug-in hybrid off-roader coming to the UK
Revealed at the Paris motor show, the KO11 will sit above the Monjaro in Geely's range. In China it has up to 925hp, lidar-based driver assistance and a 1,050-litre boot. Geely has confirmed it for the UK, but not its name or specs.
Quick answers
- Geely revealed the Project KO11 off-road SUV at the 2026 Paris motor show, with a European launch planned for late 2027.
- The KO11 is a plug-in hybrid that will sit above the Monjaro in Geely's range; its final European name and specifications have not been announced.
- In China it is sold as the Galaxy Battleship 700 (Zhanjian 700); Fleet News says Geely has confirmed it for the UK.
- The Chinese version is 5,085mm long with its spare wheel, has 233mm of ground clearance and approach and departure angles of 30 and 31 degrees.
- Chinese-market powertrains range from 350kW (469hp) front-drive to a 690kW (925hp) all-wheel-drive version with two extra rear motors.
- It has lidar-based G-Pilot H7 driver assistance, a 15.4-inch central screen, a fridge, 23 speakers and a 1,050-litre boot.
- It joins a wave of Defender-inspired Chinese off-roaders, including Chery's iCaur V27, due in the UK in early 2027.
Geely has confirmed a big, boxy off-roader for Europe. Project KO11, revealed at the Paris motor show in October 2026, is a plug-in hybrid SUV that will sit above the Monjaro at the top of Geely’s range, with a European launch planned for the end of 2027, according to Motor Trade News. Fleet News reports that it is confirmed for the UK.
In China, the same car is sold as the Galaxy Battleship 700, and it is a serious machine: up to 925hp, lidar-based driver assistance and genuine off-road hardware. Its styling owes an obvious debt to the Land Rover Defender, making it the latest in a line of Chinese off-roaders aimed at buyers who like the look but not the price. Our report on Geely’s first UK year covers the brand’s wider plans.
What is Project KO11?
KO11 is an internal project code. Geely says the final European name will be announced closer to launch, and exact European specifications have not been released. What Geely has said is that it was “engineered for demanding terrain”, with advanced suspension and off-road driving modes, and “unmistakeably futuristic” in-car technology.
Fleet News reports Geely describing it as “extremely powerful and fast” and claiming it is more luxurious inside than a Defender. It also reports that the Chinese version can float on water and has built-in propellers for “emergency situations”, features unlikely to matter in Surrey but a sign of its ambitions.
What do we know from the Chinese version?
The Chinese-market Battleship 700 gives the best guide to what Europe will get, according to CarNewsChina:
| Geely Battleship 700 (China) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Length | 5,085mm with spare wheel (4,890mm without) |
| Width / height | 1,999mm / 1,912mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,900mm |
| Ground clearance | 233mm |
| Approach / departure angles | 30 / 31 degrees |
| Front-drive PHEV | 350kW (469hp), 605Nm |
| All-wheel-drive PHEV | 690kW (925hp), 1,165Nm |
| Boot | 1,050 litres |
| Seats | Five |
The standard powertrain is Geely’s EM-T plug-in hybrid with a 1.5-litre engine and front-wheel drive. The more powerful version adds two electric motors at the rear. Fleet News expects a tri-motor plug-in hybrid with a 2.0-litre engine and a 70kWh battery, so European details may differ.
It is built on Geely’s GTA, or “Geely Terrain Architecture”, platform.
What technology does it have?
Plenty. The Chinese car uses Geely’s G-Pilot H7 driver assistance system, with a lidar sensor on the roof and an Nvidia AGX Thor chip, supporting navigation-assisted driving. Inside, there is a 15.4-inch central touchscreen, a 10.2-inch instrument display, a 12.88-inch passenger screen, a head-up display, an 18.5-litre built-in fridge, 23 speakers, massaging front seats and a folding table for a rear passenger.
Advanced driver assistance features depend on local approval, so what is enabled in the UK may differ. We cover the wider push to bring Chinese driver assistance to Europe in our Denza God’s Eye report.
Why plug-in hybrid rather than electric?
Because off-road and towing buyers often worry about range. A large plug-in hybrid with a big battery can cover most daily driving on electricity while keeping a petrol engine for long trips, towing or remote areas. Geely’s Monjaro EM-i, which made its European debut alongside KO11, offers up to 116km (72 miles) of WLTP electric range and DC charging at up to 78kW.
There is a trade-off. Plug-in hybrids only make financial sense if you charge them regularly. As company cars, they face rising benefit-in-kind tax, reaching a flat 19% by the end of the decade, as we explain in our BVRLA company car tax report. They also do not qualify for the Electric Car Grant.
How does it compare with other Defender-style SUVs?
The KO11 joins a growing group of boxy Chinese off-roaders. Fleet News notes that BYD’s Ti7 and the Bao 5 share familiar styling, and Chery’s iCaur V27, a range-extender, arrives in the UK in early 2027, as we cover in our iCaur V27 report.
The appeal is clear: rugged looks, lots of technology and space, and, if pricing follows Chinese brands’ usual approach, a much lower price than a Defender. UK prices for both are still to be announced, so treat any comparison as provisional.
Will tariffs affect it?
Possibly. The UK is weighing whether to align with EU tariffs on Chinese EVs as part of joining the EU’s Made in Europe scheme, as we explain in our Made in Europe report. The EU treats plug-in hybrids differently from battery EVs, and is introducing an import quota for Chinese hybrids, so the KO11’s tariff exposure will depend on what the UK decides and how the car is classified.
What is Geely’s European line-up?
The KO11 will top a range that Geely is building quickly. At the Paris motor show, Geely showed:
- Geely E2 (EX2). A small electric hatchback, already on sale in the UK. Our Geely EX2 guide has the details.
- Geely E5 (EX5). An electric family SUV.
- Geely Starray EM-i. A plug-in hybrid SUV.
- Geely Monjaro EM-i. A D-segment plug-in hybrid SUV making its European debut, with up to 116km of electric range, DC charging at up to 78kW and a 1.5-litre turbo engine. The top all-wheel-drive Ultra version has 246kW and 667Nm.
- Project KO11. The new flagship off-roader.
Motor Trade News positions the Monjaro EM-i against the Chery Tiggo 8, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Volkswagen Tayron eHybrid. KO11 sits above that, in territory currently occupied by premium off-roaders.
Geely calls its strategy “In Europe, For Europe”, and it plans three new UK models in 2027 alongside its current three. KO11 is likely to be one of the most eye-catching.
How capable is it off-road?
On paper, very. The Chinese version’s 233mm of ground clearance and 30-degree approach and 31-degree departure angles are serious numbers for a large SUV, and it has dedicated off-road driving modes and adaptive suspension. Its tailgate-mounted full-size spare wheel is a practical touch for remote driving, and swing-out tailgates are easier to use with a spare than lift-up ones.
Electric motors also suit off-roading. They deliver torque instantly and precisely, which helps on steep or slippery ground, and the tri-motor version can control power at each rear wheel. Plug-in hybrids add a petrol engine for range in remote areas where charging is scarce.
What we do not know is how European versions will be tuned, what tyres they will wear and what towing capacity they will have. Towing in particular will matter to the UK buyers most likely to want a car like this.
How does a large plug-in hybrid compare with an EV for off-road and towing?
| Large plug-in hybrid (like KO11) | Large battery EV | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily driving | Electric for short trips if charged | Electric always |
| Long trips and towing | Petrol engine removes range worries | Range falls sharply when towing |
| Remote areas | Refuel anywhere | Needs chargers |
| Running costs | Low if charged often; high if not | Low, especially charging at home |
| Company car tax | Rising to a flat 19% by 2029-30 | 4% in 2026-27, rising to 9% |
| Electric Car Grant | Not eligible | Eligible if price and factory rules are met |
For buyers who tow caravans or horseboxes or drive in remote areas, a plug-in hybrid like KO11 can make sense. For most others, a full EV is cheaper to run and tax, as we explain in our electric versus hybrid guide.
What should UK buyers wait to see?
Before judging the KO11, look for:
- UK price, especially against the iCaur V27 and established off-roaders.
- Electric range on the WLTP test, which determines running costs.
- Towing capacity for UK versions.
- Warranty and dealer coverage, especially in rural areas where off-roaders are used most.
- Which driver assistance features are enabled in the UK.
Why are boxy off-roaders so popular again?
The return of the square-edged 4x4 started with the new Land Rover Defender in 2020, which turned a utilitarian off-roader into a desirable lifestyle car. Its success, and its price, have left room for cheaper alternatives with similar presence. Chinese brands have moved quickly to fill that gap, combining the look with electrified powertrains and lots of technology. For UK buyers, the result is more choice in a class that was once dominated by a few expensive names.
Our view
The KO11 is one of the most dramatic cars Geely has shown for Europe: huge power, serious off-road credentials and a cabin full of technology. It is a statement that Geely wants to compete at the top end, not just with value-focused family cars. The big unknowns for UK buyers are price, electric range on the UK test, towing capacity and how much of the Chinese car’s technology survives European approval. We will update this story when Geely confirms the details.
How we test and where our numbers come from
Range figures are official WLTP combined values taken from manufacturer UK specification pages, with real-world estimates drawn from independent comparative testing. Prices are UK list prices at the time of the latest update. Tax, grant and charging-scheme figures come from GOV.UK and HMRC publications. We re-check every guide when pricing, specification or policy changes. Last checked 24 October 2026. How we work out our own figures.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Geely KO11?
Project KO11 is Geely's large plug-in hybrid off-road SUV, sold in China as the Galaxy Battleship 700. It was revealed for Europe at the 2026 Paris motor show and will sit above the Monjaro in Geely's line-up.
When is the Geely KO11 coming to the UK?
Geely plans to launch it in Europe at the end of 2027, and Fleet News reports that it is confirmed for the UK. Its final name, UK price and specifications will be announced closer to launch.
Is the Geely KO11 electric?
It is a plug-in hybrid, combining a petrol engine with electric motors and a battery that can be charged from a plug. Chinese versions range from a front-drive model to a three-motor all-wheel-drive version with up to 925hp.
Is the Geely KO11 a Land Rover Defender rival?
Its boxy shape, high bonnet and tailgate-mounted spare wheel clearly take inspiration from the Defender, and Geely claims it is more luxurious inside. Like Chery's iCaur V27, it is aimed at buyers who like that look but may want a lower price.
Will the Geely KO11 qualify for the Electric Car Grant?
No. The grant only covers zero-emission cars, so plug-in hybrids like the KO11 are not eligible, and China-built cars have not qualified in any case.
Sources and further reading
- motortradenews.comMotor Trade NewsPrimary source referenced in this article.
- carnewschina.comGeely Battleship 700 SUV will arrive in Europe in H2 2027Chinese-market dimensions, off-road angles, powertrain outputs, G-Pilot H7 with lidar, cabin features and the GTA platform.
- fleetnews.co.ukGeely showcases Defender-inspired Project K011UK confirmation, Defender inspiration, expected tri-motor PHEV with a 70kWh battery and Geely's luxury claim.
- manilatimes.netGeely Auto Expands European NEV Lineup with Monjaro EM-i at Paris Motor Show 2026Geely's Paris line-up, the Monjaro EM-i's 116km electric range and 78kW charging.
EV Compared
The EV Compared editorial team tracks the UK electric vehicle market full time: new model launches, list prices, WLTP and real-world range, public charging tariffs and the tax rules that decide what an EV actually costs to run. Every guide is checked against manufacturer specifications and official GOV.UK figures, and updated whenever the numbers move.
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