Geely announced earlier this year that they will launch a new dedicated electric vehicle brand called Zeekr. This is basically what Polestar is to Swedish luxury automaker Volvo, which Geely is also the primary owner. The first model to wear the new Zeekr branding will be this, the all-new Zeekr 001.
Why Zeekr? According to Geely, the first letter of Zeekr, which is ‘Z’, represents Generation Z. Geely says that Generation Z is the new consumer force, born between the mid-90s and the early 2010s, who have grown up in an increasingly digital world. These people have new ideas when choosing which products to buy and also “expect a uniform digital experience that covers their home, office, as well as their car.” Generation Z also sees electrification as the norm and not as an alternative, according to the company.
The rest of the name is derived from the word ‘geek’, a term for those that are fixated with and have extensive knowledge of technology, which Geely says further fits the technological focus of their new brand.
The Zeekr 001 is an all-new electric vehicle that features a wagon-like body style. It measures 4,850 mm long, 1,980 mm wide, and 1,530 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,999 mm. Small it definitely is not, with it being as long as other wagons like the Mazda 6 Wagon, Peugeot 508 SW, Volkswagen Passat Estate, just to name a few.
Design-wise, the Zeekr 001 was previewed by the Lynk & Co Zero Concept car, which is another premium brand that’s also part of the Geely group of automotive brands. Some of its design highlights from its Lynk & Co lineage are its two-tiered LED headlights, full-width grille, and its full-width LED taillights. The proportions are indeed sleek and dynamic, with its long hood, long roofline, and sculpted shoulders that give it a dynamic stance.
Zeekr says it is a new electric brand that focuses on design, luxury, customer service, and the software that its vehicles offer. As a matter of fact, Zeekr will be one of the few Chinese automakers to offer direct vehicle selling like Tesla, and its vehicles will receive regular over-the-air (OTA) software updates, thus making their cars future-proof through the addition of new software features or performance upgrades.
Moving towards the interior, and you’ll see an environment that is luxurious and well built. Most of the design features from the concept car were able to make their way into this production model, which means there’s a large center touch screen, digital gauges, and premium materials. There is also configurable LED lighting, which provides an even more cozy ambiance at night.
Powertrain specs for the Zeekr 001 are also impressive. Riding on the brand’s latest Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), this model features two electric motors driving the front and rear wheels. Combined output is 536 hp and 768 Nm of torque, enough to propel this EV from zero to 100 kph in under 4 seconds, according to Geely. With a large 110 kWh battery pack that’s even bigger than Tesla’s largest offering, Geely says it can go beyond 700 km in a full charge.
The Zeekr 001 will go on sale first in China later this year. Zeekr will also launch one new EV in the next 5 years. After China, the new EV brand also has plans to expand to Europe and North America, though no timetable was given on when the company plans to enter these markets.
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