Geely has big plans for Zeekr electric car brand, and it also has a big truck.
The Zeekr 009 is a human electric motor with a capacity of 400kW and a range of more than 800km, and is being touted as the world’s first luxury electric MPV.
This is the second car of the fledgling brand, publicly listed and launched in the European market.
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange has confirmed Geely may proceed with the listing of Krypton, a non-fully owned subsidiary engaged in the research, development and sale of electric vehicles and batteries under the Zeekr brand.
The company said the terms of the proposed turnaround, including the size of the offer and the price range, have yet to be finalized.
Zeekr CEO An Conghui speaking at a roundtable, in remarks reported by Reutersthat it will enter Europe in 2023 with the Zeekr 001 crossover.
It’s not yet clear if 009 will be able to follow suit, as it’s heavily aimed at the bustling high-end commuter segment in China.
Zeekr will be the latest in an onslaught of Chinese brands into Europe, including Hongqi’s Ora and Wey brands, Nio, Xpeng and Great Wall Motor. Notably, many brands targeting a part of the European market are electric-only brands, such as Nio.
Zeekr’s aspirations extend beyond Europe, with its CEO saying Bloomberg Earlier this year, the brand will target North America after 2022.
Many Chinese automakers have been vocal about entering North America for years now, but so far no major Chinese brand has opened stores, unless you count Polestar China – Sweden , although Chinese-made vehicles are already sold by familiar brands such as Buick and Volvo.
With Lotus, Polestar and Volvo sitting under Geely’s umbrella and offering cars there, that should theoretically make it easier for a brand like Zeekr to enter the market.
Although the 009 is Zeekr’s second model, the brand has chosen not to follow the same confusing strategy – used by fellow brands Polestar and Lynk & Co – of naming vehicles in the order in which they are named. launched.
The 009 driver is offered with a 116kWh or 140kWh battery powered by CATL, with range numbers of 702km and 822km – though both are on generous CLTC test cycles.
Independent of the battery, the 009 generates 400kW of power and 686Nm of torque from its dual-motor four-wheel drive system.
That gives it a claimed 0-100km/h time of just 4.5 seconds – amazing performance for a geek. It also has a relatively slippery drag coefficient of 0.27.
The company says the smaller battery can be quickly charged from 10 to 80% in 28 minutes.
009 measures 5209mm long, 2024mm wide and 1848-1856mm tall on a 3205mm wheelbase, the dimensions are almost identical to LDV Mifa and its electricity Mifa 9 reciprocal due here this year.
It is also slightly longer and wider than Kia Carnival.
All models use a “high-performance” air suspension system, with a double wishbone front suspension and a rear multi-link suspension.
As would be expected of an EV, there’s single-pedal driving, while the Mobileye EyeQ5H smart driving chip and a set of cameras and radar power the 009’s enhanced suite of driver-assistance features.
Automatic emergency braking (forward and reverse), adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, safe-exit warning and remote-controlled parking are standard, with multiple devices. more driver assistance.
Standard equipment on all 009s includes headlights with matrix LED technology, adaptive high beams and steering guidance, as well as power sliding doors and dual sunroof (panoramic windows behind).
Indispensable 009 with its bluff front end, with its large metal surface where the grille rests on a combustion-powered car. Called the “Fountain of Light,” it features 154 LED strips.
But the real highlight is the interior, upholstered in Nappa leather and Ultrasuede upholstery and decorated with color-adjustable ambient lighting, with sound pumped through a 20-speaker Yamaha sound system.
The front seats are heated and ventilated with 12-way power adjustment for the driver and 8-way power adjustment for the passenger, while the captain’s second row is also electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated and features pneumatic massage.
The third row also has two seats.
Displays include a 10.25-inch unit in front of the driver, a 15.4-inch touchscreen, and a 15.6-inch adjustable central ceiling display. There is also a 3.4-inch touchscreen on the sliding doors.
Zeekr’s first car, the 001, was revealed as a concept in 2020 with the Lynk & Co badge – a fledgling brand in itself, launched in 2018 – before Geely announced it would shape up. into the new EV brand.
001 launches Geely’s new Sustainable Experience Architecture, which also underpins 009.
