JAC DEFINE-X Concept SUV 2026: Chassis, Interior and Release Timeline

© A. Krivonosov / SPEEDME

At the Chengdu Auto Show, a SPEEDME.RU correspondent got a close look at the JAC DEFINE-X, a large six-seat prototype through which the Chinese automaker previews the direction of its future intelligent SUVs. The car isn’t a production model yet: DEFINE-X first appeared at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, and in spring 2026 the concept resurfaced on JAC’s stand in Beijing.

Photos from Chengdu highlight the car’s main design statement — a nearly fully enclosed front end. Instead of a conventional grille, there’s a huge digital screen spelling out DEFINE, flanked by four vertical light blocks. The roughly 5-meter-long body gets nearly vertical flanks, a black roof, large wheels and pronounced roof rails. The cabin seats six.

But DEFINE-X is most interesting for its chassis. JAC uses an ICDC All-Domain By-Wire Intelligent Chassis system developed with Huawei technology. The automaker claims a four-wheel vector-control response time of under 100 milliseconds, and the rear wheels can turn up to 12 degrees. That lets the big SUV perform a “crab walk” and makes maneuvering in tight parking spots far easier.

The concept also gets the latest version of JAC’s ADS driver-assistance suite. At the Chengdu show, JAC stressed that DEFINE-X is meant to showcase the capabilities of its intelligent chassis and electronics for future long-distance travel.

There are unusual touches inside, too. The so-called Skyline Cockpit includes a curved panoramic display, mounted far ahead of the driver, spanning 48 inches, plus a separate 15.6-inch central touchscreen. The DEHM OS interface is built around 3D graphics: navigation, vehicle settings, media and driver-assistance systems all appear as elements of a single virtual space.

DEFINE-X wasn’t conceived only as an urban flagship. At the rear, engineers built in a split tailgate, a deployable bike rack and two integrated seats JAC calls Tail Fishing Seats — you can sit on them by the open trunk while relaxing or fishing. The whole concept is aimed at camping, road trips and other out-of-town scenarios.

DEFINE itself isn’t just the name of two show cars — it’s JAC’s new modular architecture. It’s built for vehicles across different classes and supports pure electric, plug-in hybrid and series-hybrid powertrains — BEV, PHEV and REEV. Both prototypes, DEFINE-X and DEFINE-S, get CDC adaptive suspension and rear-wheel steering.

The project has already earned international recognition: DEFINE-X and DEFINE-S won a Red Dot Design Concept Award 2025, and later picked up another Red Dot for their intelligent-cockpit interface.

DEFINE-X still has no official production specs — no confirmed power output, battery capacity, range or price. The 590 kW figure sometimes mentioned alongside the DEFINE name belongs to the three-motor DEFINE-S sports car and has nothing to do with the SUV. JAC itself calls DEFINE-X a prototype that lays the design and technology groundwork for its future model lineup.

No launch timeline has been announced yet for a production version of DEFINE-X. Still, the car offers an early answer to what JAC’s next big models might look like: fully steerable chassis, advanced electronics, and a choice between electric and hybrid powertrains.