Zeekr, one of Chinese automotive giant Geely’s numerous brands, has detailed an update to its oldest model which rivals the likes of the Tesla Model S.
The Zeekr 001 is an electric shooting brake launched in China in 2021 and in Europe last year. It was originally revealed as a Lynk & Co (another Geely brand) concept back in 2020.
So far Zeekr has only detailed an update for the core 001 range. The high-performance quad-motor 001 FR which was only revealed last year remains unchanged for now.
Thanks to new electric motors, the Zeekr 001 is now capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds, which is 0.5 seconds quicker than the pre-update model.
Dual-motor all-wheel drive variants now produce total system outputs of 580kW of power and 810Nm of torque.
There’s also a new 800V electrical architecture that replaces the pre-update model’s less sophisticated 400V electrical architecture to help boost charging times.
Zeekr 001 variants equipped with the CATL-sourced 95kWh Shenxing battery pack now add up to 256km of range in five minutes of charging. They also have a claimed range of 675km according to the lenient CLTC standards.
The long-range versions of the 001 with the CATL-sourced 100kWh Qilin battery pack on the other hand can now drive 750km according to CLTC standards.
Other changes the update has brought include Navigation Zeekr Pilot (NZP) which is a driving assistant system developed by Zeekr and Mobileye. It comprises LiDAR, high-definition cameras and milimeter-wave radars.
The system will initially be available for use in “over 60 Chinese cities” before March, and then “expand to 90 per cent of Chinese cities” in the second quarter of this year.
For now the updated Zeekr 001 is only available for the Chinese market and is priced from RMB 269,000 (~A$57,400).
As previously reported, Zeekr confirmed to CarExpert it’s aiming to start selling cars locally in the third quarter of 2024.
Where Chinese rivals such as MG and GWM have launched in high-volume and low-cost segments, Zeekr will instead position itself as a premium brand.
The only Zeekr vehicle confirmed for a local launch at this stage is the 009 electric people mover.
Zeekr 007 
Zeekr X 
Zeekr 009
It’s unclear if any other models, including the X electric crossover, 001 electric fastback and 007 electric sedan, will be offered at launch.
It’s also unclear how Zeekr plans to distribute its vehicles in Australia.
Zeekr was founded in 2021 as an all-electric brand to rivals the likes of Tesla and Nio. All of its electric vehicles (EVs) are built on the Geely’s SEA platform.
MORE: Zeekr confirmed as China’s next challenger in Australia
