Geely Galaxy Cruiser debuts in Shanghai with rugged 4×4 looks, PHEV powertrain – Proton eMas off-roader?

Geely’s big debut at the ongoing Auto Shanghai 2025 show is the Galaxy Cruiser, a striking new off-road-ready concept. China’s largest privately-owned carmaker looks to be finally entering the country’s burgeoning 4×4 market with a car that ditches the company’s own design language in favour of a slightly derivative boxy aesthetic.

All the hallmarks are present and correct – a flat roof, an upright glasshouse, a bluff front end, chunky silver bumpers, protruding squared-off fender flares and a sturdy roof rack. The concept even gets a step ladder and a storage box on either side, items that were popularised by the Land Rover Defender.

The front end sports a full-width rectangular grille that integrates the round headlights, which Geely says “embody ancient wisdom.” These, together with the vertical taillights, have been inspired by an armillary sphere. There’s also an external spare wheel that’s typical of this segment.

The angular design language continues on the inside, where the Galaxy Cruiser features several rectangular cues rather reminiscent of BYD’s Fangchengbao series of vehicles. These include the general dashboard design, the horn pad and switches on the steering wheel, the large floating infotainment touchscreen, the toggle switches on the centre console and the rollers to select the drive and off-road modes.

Elsewhere, the distinctive gear selector has been inspired by the throttle on a yacht, while the passenger-side dash is fitted with additional off-road-focused instruments such as a compass. Don’t expect the latter to make it to production, however, as they would complicate the airbag’s deployment.

Geely says the Galaxy Cruiser is able to crab walk, make tank turns and even drive on three wheels, the latter hinting at BYD-style hydraulic suspension that can raise one wheel if, say, the tyre is flat. It is also claimed to be capable of drifting without a driver and pass a moose test at speeds of up to 80 km/h. The car has a water-wading depth rating of 800 mm, and like the Yangwang U8, it can float on water for up to two hours, driving at speeds of up to 8.5 km/h.

This being a flight-of-fancy concept, there are no details whatsoever on what powers the car. Geely does say, however, that the Galaxy Cruiser is capable of switching from full electric drive, hybrid and range extended modes using AI technology, hinting at a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The company already offers such a system in efficient EM-i and performance EM-P variants.

Geely also says the Galaxy Cruiser uses its in-house-developed Aegis short blade battery, comes with satellite communications and utilises G-AES Universal Obstacle Continuous Automatic Avoidance Technology. That last bit allows the car to avoid hazards while off-roading using satellite remote sensing and “drone scouting,” it further claims.

Given that Proton has been redeveloping products from the Galaxy range such as the E5 as eMas, we could very well see the national carmaker offer the production Galaxy Cruiser as an eMas off-roader, which would be a fascinating prospect. Helping matters is the fact that the concept is far more production-ready than last year’s Galaxy Starship, meaning that it should reach Chinese showrooms sooner rather than later.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.