U.S & Europe on the radar of the Zeekr 001 & family

Geely Auto Group launched the Lynk & Co Zero Concept from the 2020 Beijing Auto Show in China as the Zeekr 001 in 2021. The 001 electric SUV is the first model from its new brand Zeekr (Chinese: 极氪), and it could have potential in global markets, including the United States.

Design

The Zeekr 001 looks like a crossover from some angles, but it’s a shooting brake with a sporty rear profile. This distinct design sets it apart from traditional shooting brakes such as the VW Arteon or Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake. Its crossover genes puts it more in the territory of the Nio ET5 Touring and the high-end Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.

The bug-eyed face is set visibly low, and the steeply raked windscreen further adds to the sporty styling at the front. On the sides, the 001 appears to have a crouched posture, which gives it a powerful stance. Short overhangs, a sleek greenhouse, a smoothly sloping roofline, and flush-fit door handles lend the EV a clean and aerodynamic appearance. At the back, the fast-sloping glass is the biggest attraction, while the technical-looking full-width light panel provides the EV a futuristic look.

Interior

The interior is high-tech and minimalist, in a layout which is becoming typical of modern Chinese electric cars. A sleek dashboard discreetly integrates AC vents and has two screens attached to it – an 8.8-inch HD instrument cluster and a 15.4-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system. Supplementing the former is a head-up display with a projection area of 14.7 inches.

The center console houses a slim climate control panel with touch-control buttons, a stubby gear shifter, a rotary dial-type multimedia controller with a knurled edge for a premium look and feel, two cupholders, a wireless smartphone charging tray, and a storage box. It has been designed to connect with the dashboard like a bridge. The steering wheel is a three-spoke, flat-bottomed unit with capacitive buttons. Premium materials and intricate detailing on the door panels in the 001 show Zeekr’s attention to detail.

The front seats have 12-way power adjustment, heating, cooling, and massage functions. The massage function can be selected with four different modes and with three levels of intensity. The rear seats also have a heating function. More importantly, they are reclinable and offer seven degrees of adjustment. A 5.7-inch touchscreen allows the rear passengers to adjust their climate control settings.

Safety & ADAS

Zeekr has equipped the Euro-spec 001 with seven airbags and given it a 360-degree field of view with 28 sensors, which include radar, cameras, and ultrasonics. The latter enables 21 ADAS features, such as Front and Rear Collision Mitigation Support, Lane Keep Assist, Evasive Maneuver Assist, Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Door Open Warning, etc. A Highway Assist System automates lane changes when the driver has activated Adaptive Cruise Control and gives a turn signal.

Specifications

The Euro-spec Zeekr 001 measures 4,955 mm in length, 1,999 mm in width, and 1,560 mm/1,548 mm (with air suspension) in height. It has a 2,999 mm wheelbase and it offers 174 mm/162 mm (with air suspension) of ground clearance.

Based on the SEA platform, the Zeekr 001 is available in Europe in long-range RWD and performance AWD variants, both with a 100 kWh (gross) battery pack that consists of NMC cells. The battery pack operates at 400 volts and supports charging at up to 22 kW (AC)/200 kW (DC).

The Zeekr 001 delivers a WLTP range of up to 620 km in the long-range RWD variant and up to 590 km in the performance AWD variant. Using a 22 kW AC charger, fully charging the battery pack when it’s in a depleted state takes five and a half hours. Using a 200 kW DC charger, topping up from 10 to 80% level takes half an hour.

The long-range RWD variant has one motor, generating 200 kW and 343 Nm of torque for the rear wheels. It takes 7.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h. The performance-AWD variant uses a combination of two motors, with the second motor mounted at the front, which gives it 400 kW and 686 Nm of torque. As a result, a 0-100 km/h sprint takes just 3.8 seconds. An air suspension is available in the latter for more responsiveness and comfort.

Aspect\Specification	Zeekr 001 Long-Range RWD	Zeekr 001 Performance AWD
Length	4,955 mm (195.1 in.)	4,955 mm (195.1 in.)
Width	1,999 mm (78.7 in.)	1,999 mm (78.7 in.)
Height	1,560 mm (61.4 in.)	1,560 mm (61.4 in.)/1,548 mm (60.9 in.)
Wheelbase	2,999 mm (118.1 in.)	2,999 mm (118.1 in.)
Ground Clearance	174 mm (6.9 in.)	174 mm (6.9 in.)/162 mm (6.4 in.)
Cargo Space	539 l (19 cu. ft.)	539 l (19 cu. ft.)
Drivetrain Layout	RWD	AWD
Power	200 kW (268 hp)	400 kW (536 hp)
Torque	343 Nm (253 lb.-ft.)	686 Nm (506 lb.-ft.)
Battery Pack Capacity	100 kWh	100 kWh
Cell Chemistry	NMC	NMC
Max. AC Charging Input	22 kW	22 kW
Lowest AC Charging Time (0-100%)	5.5 h	5.5 h
Max. DC Charging Input	200 kW	200 kW
Lowest DC Charging Time (10-80%)	30 m	30 m
WLTP Range	620 km (385 mi)	Up to 590 km (367 mi)

Price & Release date

In the Netherlands, the Zeekr 001 has been priced at EUR 59,490 (USD 63,687) in the standard-range RWD variant and EUR 62,490 (USD 66,899) onwards in the performance AWD variant. Pre-orders are open, and according to the local online configurator, deliveries will commence in November or December 2023.

Production

Series production of the Zeekr 001 began on October 19, 2021, and customer deliveries in China commenced on the 23rd of that month. The first 50 customers got their Zeekr 001 outside the production facility in Ningbo (Zhejiang Province). Zeekr targeted an annual sales of 70,000 001s in 2022, which it achieved. The company delivered 71,941 units of its first model in its first full year of sales.

Zeekr U.S. launch

Zeekr will enter the U.S. in 2024, CEO An Conghui revealed on March 21, 2023, Autocar reported later the same day. He didn’t disclose the planned models for the market, though.

Zeekr brand

Chinese media sites reported after the Geely Auto Group announced the Zeekr brand on March 23, 2021, that the production Lynk & Co Zero Concept would become the first Zeekr model. On March 31, 2021, that exactly ensued; the Zheijang Geely Holding Group’s principal auto division announced the road-ready version of the EV concept as the Zeekr 001.

Geely Auto Group is one of the six verticals of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, comprising Geely Auto, Link & Co, Geometry, Proton, Lotus, and smart brands. Zeekr is a new addition to this business division. Geely Automobile Holdings and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group will jointly own it in a 51:49 ratio. According to the official announcement, Zeekr is “a new electric mobility technology and solutions company.” It is one more addition to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group’s complex structure, which looked like this before its announcement:

Using the parent company’s SEA platform, Zeekr will launch a wide range of high-tech EVs that offer luxury-class comfort and performance. The battery technologies, battery management systems, electric motor technologies, and EV supply chain support will be their own, though.

TopElectricSUV says

For a fraction of the price of the Tesla Model X (EUR 99,990 onwards in the Netherlands), the Zeekr 001 has a sporty design, phenomenal performance, high-end technologies, and a worry-free driving range. While it cannot compete with Tesla’s seating capacity or peak performance, it is a good, zero-emission choice for young drivers looking for their first performance vehicle.

Zeekr 001 FAQs

Featured Image Source: Zeekr