Gothenburg, 2e city in Sweden is host to Volvo, Lynk & Co and now, Zeekr. A galaxy of brands belonging to the Chinese giant Geely which continues to grow and multiply. The young brand has already sold 100,000 vehicles in China, produced in two dedicated factories, a country in which it has also deployed a network of 400 charging stations.
We were lucky enough to be able to visit Zeekr’s research and development center in Gothenburg, as well as its design center. Happy men who have immense creative freedom, specific to this type of new brand that works in start-up mode, but with the means of a large group and one instruction: to stand out. Result, alongside the beautiful shooting brake Zeekr 001, very high-end, efficient and less affordable, Zeekr plans to reach a wider audience with a model like the Zeekr X, a crossover interesting drawing in more ways than one.
Technical sheet
| Model | Zeekr X |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 4.45m x 1.836m x 1.572m |
| Power (horses) | 427 horsepower |
| 0 to 100km/h | 3.8s |
| Level of autonomy | 2 |
| Max speed | 200 km/h |
| Main screen size | 8.8 inches |
| Car side socket | Type 2 Combo (CCS) |
| Entry-level price | 40000 euro |
Product sheet |
Design: unheard of
The design boss is the German Stefan Sielaff, who comes from Audi, but we are received by Gustaf Gunér, young designer in charge of the brand. 31 nationalities are represented in his studio, a creative melting pot that is expressed here through the prism of the theme of energy, when it is rather premium luxury that presides over the design of the upper ranges. And energy, it takes to detail all the aspects of this car with such a rich design.
Its silhouette challenges, with its smooth surfaces, its sharp angles, its pronounced rear setback which will evoke the BMW i3 to some, its sharp lights and its strangely shaped wheel arches. By discovering the car in a film studio transformed into a place for a photo session, we are struck by the attention to detail offered, with treatments of lights, glass surfaces and body creases of great sophistication. The rear lights in organic glass and comprising 229 LEDs bring out the big game with an animation as the vehicle approaches, while the logo is illuminated.
However, the general line remains simple and effective and the car frankly makes you want to. It seems almost a little too close to what we are used to seeing with show cars to be true. And yet, we will soon come across this crossover of 4.43m in length and 1.57 m in height on our roads, perhaps even next year in France.
Habitability: comfort and innovation
THE doors without uprights, with handles in the form of cavities dug into the bodywork open access to an interior of a spectacular kind, all in light and refined materials, with small touches of real metal of a color between copper and gold a little flashy.
The two-tone blue/beige dashboard, like the steering wheel, offers a bright and modern design. It incorporates a pretty illuminated three-dimensional striped stripe (choice of color), like some car rear lights: pretty and original. LEDs also illuminate the tweeters of the audio system or the perforated parts of the storm doors. Everything is bathed in light thanks to the 1.21m panoramic roof2. This shows a level of quality of materials and assembly of the first order, especially compared to other Chinese brands that arrive with more or less premium ambitions.
The large integral seats seem comfortable, but they spoil the visibility of the rear passengers a little. However, the comfortable rear seats benefit from the generous space provided by the long wheelbase of 2.75 m.
As for the trunk, with 352 liters, it is rather in the low average of the segment. A little frunky (front trunk) can also be used to store the battery cable.
Infotainment
As for infotainment, if the base is Android, the brand preferred to say no to GAS (Google Automotive Services). It must be said that with 1,000 people in Shanghai for software development, Zeekr has provided the means. The proposed apps come from the Harman galaxy, while the cartography is signed by the specialist Here.
Naturally, such a car must be connected and standard, it will be possible to control certain functions remotely, but the business model will encourage you to take the optional Premium pack (99 euros per year), with video streaming functions, games and above all, a route planner.
The display is done by means of a screen of 14.6 inches (in high version), complete with an augmented reality head-up display in the style of what Volkswagen offers, and 8.8-inch instrumentation.
Connectivity is via a 5G chip. Naturally it is possible to have a beautiful 360° vision around the car, particularly realistic. A dashcam is integrated into the car, to film any eventual incident. A voice assistant is in the game: “Hi, Zeekr” (it will be necessary to pronounce “Zi-coeur”…). On the central console, in addition to a practical retractable hook for hanging a bag, Zeekr incorporates two USB-C ports, one 60 W Super Speed, one 27 W.
A fun little geeky gimmick, a small rotating screen on the B-pillar can display messages concerning charging, for example. In addition, you can have fun making dog or cat cries outside the car with a speaker system – it’s a change from the noises of Tesla farts…
Driving aids
across the Atlantic, Zeekr provides Waymo (Google) with its future autonomous vehicle. The brand also collaborates with Mobileye for systems allowing autonomous driving. Suffice to say that it should be seasoned with regard to the ADAS (driving aids) offered on the X. On the program, an adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous function on the motorway, lane keeping assistance, assistance with evasive maneuvers, a front and rear cross-traffic alert, among other features. Enough to offer level 2 semi-autonomous driving.
Autonomy, battery and charging
The technical cousin of the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1 based on the same SEA platform will also offer two engines, with simple propulsion or two engines and four-wheel drive. The first, with 272 hp and 343 Nm of torque, promises nice acceleration already with 5.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. Count 3.8 seconds for the top of the range with all-wheel drive and its 428 hp and 543 Nm of total torque, a little heavier however: 1,960 kg, against 1,855 kg for the rear-wheel drive version.
The high version loses a little in autonomy, with 400 instead of 440 WLTP kilometers with the CATL NMC battery of 69 gross kWh. Note, the aerodynamic coefficient of 0.28 is not very spectacular for these two models. A heat pump is fitted as standard, to limit the loss of autonomy with the use of on-board heating.
On the on-board charging side, a 22 kW charger is supplied as standard on the dual motor version, and fast charging can go up to 150kW, allowing to go from 0 to 80% in 29 minutes, or 4 hours on a wall box.
Price, competition and availability
To take up the challenge against the Renault Mégane E-Tech, Volkswagen ID.3 or MG4, even Tesla Model 3, the Zeekr X therefore plays the design card above all else. This will also serve to set it apart from its technical cousins from the Geely group, which use the same base: Smart #1 and Volvo EX30.
While Sweden and the Netherlands are the first two markets inaugurated by the brand on our continent (deliveries: November 2023), it will quickly expand and arrive in France, probably next year the brand’s boss for Europe, Spiros Fotinos (ex-Lexus), says so in a half-word.
Distribution should be done online or through a brand-owned network, while a new European headquarters are planned in Amsterdam, in addition to design and R&D activities in Sweden. A flagship store is already planned at the beginning in each capital where the brand will be established.
The price displayed for Holland is very aggressive in view of the quality of presentation and the equipment of the car, with an entry level with already very complete equipment: panoramic roof, four heated seats, a Yamaha sound system at 13 speakers and no less than 19 ADAS features. AT 44,990 euros in base price, it should be eligible for the ecological bonus of 500 euros with us, at least as long as it is accessible to non-European cars.
| Zeekr 001 | Long Range RWD | Privilege AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomy | 440km | 400km |
| Battery | 69 kWh | 69 kWh |
| Engine | Propulsion | All-wheel drive |
| Power | 200kW / 272hp | 315kW / 428hp |
| Couple | 343Nm | 543 Nm |
| 0 to 100 km/h | 5.6sec | 3.8 sec |
| Consumption | 16.4kWh/100km | 18.3kWh/100km |
| Towing capacity | 1.6 tons | 1.6 tons |
| Weight | 1,855kg | 1960kg |
| Price | €44,990 | €49,490 |
The high Privilege version is displayed at 49,990 euros, above the fateful threshold. Good news, the 5-year or 100,000 km warranty can be doubled (to 10 years) provided that you follow the maintenance recommended in the Zeekr network every year. The battery is covered for 8 years or 200,000 km. Something to reassure about the reliability of this new brand, from a well-established group.
