Military-inspired Chinese off-road electric SUV revealed: 2025 Dongfeng M-Hero 917 special edition set for release in China but could it come to Australia?

Chinese carmaker Dongfeng is set to release what looks to be the ultimate apocalypse car: the M-Hero 917 ‘Dragon Armour Edition’.

According to CarNewsChina, the 800kW fully-electric four-wheel drive has been earmarked for a September 24 release date in China. The EV has been testing in rugged locations across Europe and the Middle East but there has been no word on if it could be Australia bound.

This is not Dongfeng’s first foray into the off-road utility market. The Chinese brand, which is the fourth largest car manufacturer in China, currently produces military armoured vehicles for the Chinese military, including the Dongfeng Meshi, China’s version of the US’ Humvee.

Priced at 768,000 to 868,000 yuan ($158,858 to $179,530), the M-Hero 917 appears to borrow some of its design cues from a Ford Bronco Raptor, Hummer, or a Mad Max film. It has a wide stance, a high suspension lift and a short front end with an imposing vented grille and bonnet intake.

It comes standard in a “desert storm military yellow” colour with a contrasting silver roof, while more than 20 per cent of the car’s external materials are said to be made up of carbon fibre.

It also gets fully enclosed “rotary forged wheels”, military-style fenders, a lightweight front nudge bar and a spare tyre mounted to the rear.

The SUV is equipped with a tow hook that CarNewsChina states is rated for 2.5 tonnes, as well as an integrated RV power port. Various outdoor tools such as an axe, shovel, jerry can and fire extinguisher come mounted onto the SUVs rear brackets.

Things are a little less utilitarian on the inside. The Dragon Armour Edition borrows the triple screen configuration from the standard M-Hero 917, which includes a digital driver’s display, multimedia touchscreen and passenger-dedicated touchscreen.

There’s also Nappa leather upholstery, electronically adjustable heated front seats, a 16-speaker sound system, air purifying and fragrance systems as well as a rear passenger central screen.

According to CarNewsChina, the car comes as a fully electric version of a range extender hybrid. The range extender adds a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine that charges the battery but never drives the wheels.

The electric version uses four electric motors to make about 800kW and the range extender variant uses three motors for about 600kW of grunt.

Driving range is quoted at 505km for the electric version according to the lenient CLTC testing protocols, which isn't that impressive considering the enormous 140kWh-plus battery.

The range extender hybrid can drive up to 1032km before depleting the 66kWh battery and fuel tank. It can reportedly drive up to 200km on electric-only power.