Geely’s Zeekr brand has introduced their first vehicle at a special event in China. Billed as the “world’s first mass produced pure electric shooting brake,” the Zeekr 001 is a production version of last year’s Lynk & Co Zero concept and was created under the mantra of “No more boring EVs.” Zeekr didn’t say much about the design, but confirmed the 001 has facial recognition technology which will recognize drivers and automatically adjust settings to suit their preferences. The model also has frameless automatic doors that open when drivers approach and close upon entry.
We can also see flush-mounted door handles
and a lightly revised exterior. Among the changes are new sensors on the front
fenders and a revised brake light bar that sees Zeekr branding replace the Lynk
& Co moniker. In terms of size, the model measures 4970 mm long and has a wheelbase that spans 3005 mm. This means the car
is 8 mm longer than the Porsche Taycan and has a 104 mm longer wheelbase.
Moving into the cabin, we can see a
slender digital instrument cluster and a massive infotainment system. The model
also has geometric trim, ambient lighting and two-tone accents. The 001 has a
cargo capacity of 2,144 liters and will receive a “full
lifetime” of over-the-air updates. The latter will happen pretty often as the
company is promising at least one per quarter to keep the car “highly
competitive.”
Based on Geely’s new SEA platform, the 001
has two electric motors that give the model all-wheel drive as well as a
combined output of 536 hp and 700+ Nm of torque.
This will enable the car to rocket from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds
and have a top speed in excess of 200 km/h. The company didn’t go
into many specifics, but confirmed there will be 86 kWh and 100 kWh battery
packs. These will allow for ranges of up to 700 km on a single
charge.
When the battery is low, owners will be
thankful for a fast charging capability of up to 360 kW. It promises to provide
approximately 120 km of range after just five minutes of charging.
Speaking of the latter, the company revealed plans for a Zeekr charging
network. If everything goes according to plan, the automaker will build 2,200
charging stations by the end of 2023. Getting back to specifications, the 001
will have an air suspension that provides between 117 – 205 mm of ground clearance. The latter is more than you’ll find on some versions of
the Jeep Compass.
The Zeekr 001 will be launched in China
this October and the company is in the process of setting up a dealer network.
This year alone, two flagship Zeekr Experience centers and 60 smaller Zeekr
Spaces will open across China. The company also has plans for 36 delivery
centers and 60 service centers. Zeekr went on to say they will offer online and
offline sales as well as subscription and battery leasing options. Following
Zeekr’s launch in China, the brand will embark on a global expansion in 2022.
There’s no word on specifics, but the company said their EVs will be offered in
“selected global markets.”
