Volvo’s corporate cousins in China have revealed a new electric SUV with more than 500km of claimed range, and a sticker price that’d make it Australia’s cheapest electric car.
Zeekr, which is part of the same Geely group as Volvo and Polestar, has released pricing and specifications for the ZeekrX SUV. In China, it’ll have 560km of claimed range, and a starting price equivalent to around $40,000 before on-roads.
The ZeekrX was previously teased as a colourful camouflage prototype ahead of its official launch; now we’ve got a proper look at the car and its specifications.
At ~$40,000 before on-roads, the entry-level ZeekrX undercuts the cheapest electric car in Australia (the MG ZS EV) by around $7000 based on international pricing.
The entry-level model starts at US$27,600 (AU$40,657) for the five-seat, rear-wheel drive model, although a more luxurious four-seat model is also offered.
The single-motor option has 200kW of power and 343Nm of torque that can complete the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.8 seconds.
It also offers 560km of range based on the more generous Chinese CLTC testing cycle.
A flagship dual-motor, all-wheel drive model is also on offer. It has 315kW of power and 543Nm of torque, and has a motor on each axle.
It is capable of dispatching the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.7 seconds, and can sustain up to 512km of range – again, on the more lenient Chinese test cycle.
Both models are powered by a 66kWh battery pack with NMC chemistry.
The ZeekrX uses Geely’s own electric motor and silicon carbide battery technology.
Inside the car owners can choose from either four or five seat configurations. There are four interior colour options including navy with cream, navy with green, maroon with cream, grey with cream all include rose-gold accents.
The interior boasts plenty of space, according to the manufacturer, while a 1.2 metre panoramic glass roof is designed to make the car feel airy from behind the wheel.
Other interior features include a 5.7-litre, heated and cooled centre console, wireless phone charging, lounge style reclining front seats, and fold up cushions for the rear seats… which also fold flat.
The interior is full of screens including a digital instrument cluster, a 24.3-inch head-up display, and a 14.6-inch floating infotainment system can slide across the dashboard to the passenger.
The boot capacity is 363 litres with the rear seats erected, and 1182 litres with the rear seats flat.
The dimensions of the vehicle can be closely related to a Volvo EX30, given the Geely group also owns Volvo and Polestar. It measures 4450mm long, 1836mm wide, 1572mm tall, with a 2750mm wheelbase.
This time last year, Geely-owned Smart released its Smart#1 which is based on the same Sustainable Experience Architecture. The upcoming Volvo EX30 is also expected to ride on the same platform.
The ZeekrX is slightly smaller than the Smart#1 with only 20mm of length and 64mm of height differentiating the cousins.
The ZeekrX will be manufactured in China and has recently been confirmed for Europe.
Smart #1
Zeekr also has plans to also enter the American market, based on an overseas report saying the brand filed a confidential initial public offering (IPO) in the USA last year.
The Chinese manufacturer has already released two models – the 001 liftback and 009 people mover targeted primarily at the Chinese market.
With plans to now enter Europe, Zeekr hopes to double its annual sales to 140,000 units.
Last year Zeekr recorded 71,941 sales which was a 1098 per cent increase year-on-year.
