Along with the globally established Polestar, Chinese conglomerate Geely Holding has a second high-end brand specializing in EVs in its arsenal – Zeekr. Besides a potential IPO filing, it’s not well-known from a U.S. perspective. Zeekr is making strides towards its global ambitions, though, which began with its European launch in 2023. On New Year’s Day this year, the company began delivering its fourth model: the Zeekr 007.
As a Tesla Model 3 rival, the Zeekr 007 is a crucial product in the company’s line-up. In March 2024, I got an opportunity to experience the electric sports sedan at the 2024 Bangkok International Motor Show, where I examined its design, features and comfort. Here’s what I think about the new Zeekr EV:
Design
I think the Zeekr 007 has a minimalist and coupe-inspired exterior for a futuristic and sporty appearance. When I saw it in person at the 2024 Bangkok International Motor Show, I noticed that its side profile bears a striking resemblance to the VW ID.7, especially due to the sloping roofline and the distinct upward curve of the beltline towards the rear.
The flush door handles, frameless mirrors, pronounced front wheel arches, and prominent side shoulders, are well executed, contributing to the electric sedan’s sporty demeanor. What I didn’t particularly like was the front of the car. The wide hood has pronounced areas on the flanks, which offer an imposing first impression. The sleek headlamps positioned lower than usual amplifies that effect and underline the car’s understated look, but I wouldn’t say I’m a fan of their shape.
I found the rear end of the Zeekr 007 quite athletic. Flat from the top and bulbous from the back, the trunk lid reminded me of several Aston Martins, which feels somewhat ironic given the car’s name! I’m sure Mr. Bond also approves of the thin, uniformly lit taillights!
Checking out the Zeekr 007 right after the Zeekr X, I noticed its build quality was superior. While the crossover exhibited some panel gaps that could do with a little refinement, the sedan displayed mostly tight panel gaps, and I observed no significant irregularities. The Zeekr 007’s production takes place in-house at Geely Holding (the parent company)’s Ningbo factory.
Interior
The Zeekr 007 has doors that automatically open and close, which I felt was quite impressive for a car of its segment. With my hands full, this feature made both ingress and egress easy.
The Zeekr 007 follows the reductive design philosophy on the inside, too. It has a simple horizontal dashboard with a 13.02-inch HD instrument cluster display and a 15.05-inch 2.5K OLED central display attached to it. In my opinion, the icons of the latter’s UI were a bit too colorful for the liking of European and American customers. Personally, I would’ve liked to see more physical controls, too. The AC vents were designed discreetly to be kept hidden from sight, which was a nice touch of sophistication.
I noticed that the 007’s squircle steering wheel, which looked chunky and elegant, featured a touch bar for several functions below the center pad. It had 4-way electric adjustment, heating, and memory functions as well. Both front seats had 14-way electric adjustment with heating, memory, ventilation, and massage functions. In the back, I appreciated Zeekr offering not only a heating function but also an electrically reclining function to adjust the backrest up to 7º.
The ceiling was covered in microfiber velvet, and along with a 1.69 m2 nano silver-coated glass roof featuring adjustable transparency, it gave me a sense of sitting in a luxury vehicle. I would’ve liked more distinctive premium decor elements in the cabin, though. However, overall, the interior was quite upmarket for a model of this segment.
Specifications
The Zeekr 007 is available in three configurations in China, the only market where it’s on sale. The base and middle configurations have a 75 kWh LFP battery, while the top-end configuration uses a 100 kWh NMC battery, both operating at 800 volts. However, the latter is available as an option in the base and middle configurations.
The base configuration has one motor, producing 310 kW (416 hp) and 440 Nm (325 lb.-ft.) of torque, allowing the car to accelerate from a standstill to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds. It delivers a CLTC range of 688 km (428 miles) with the standard 75 kWh LFP battery pack and 870 km (541 miles) with the optional 100 kWh NMC battery pack. Upgrading to the latter improves the 0-62 mph acceleration time as well – 5.4 seconds.
The middle configuration adds a second motor that bumps power and torque to 475 kW (637 hp) and 710 Nm (524 lb.-ft.), respectively. This upgrade leads to a noticeably lower 0-62 mph acceleration time of 3.8 seconds, but the CLTC range takes a hit – 616 km (383 miles). Upgrading to the optional 100 kWh NMC battery pack reduces the 0-62 mph acceleration time to 3.5 seconds and increases the CLTC range to 770 km (479 miles).
The top-end configuration has the same dual-motor powertrain, but it gives the car a lightning quick 0-62 mph acceleration time of 2.84 seconds (excl. rollout). It delivers a CLTC range of 660 km (410 miles).
Both battery packs support V2L applications at up to 3.3 kW (AC) and V2V charging at up to 60 kW (DC). Zeekr says the LFP battery pack has an exceptionally high energy density of 83.7% and can add 500 km (311 miles) of CLTC range in just 15 minutes.
Price & Release Date
The Zeekr 007’s prices in China start at CNY 209,900 (USD 29,016) and go up to CNY 299,900 (USD 41,458). The electric sedan is on sale in China, and later in 2024, it could reach European markets. Considering that it was showcased at CES 2024, the Zeekr 007 might enter the American market within the next couple of years. So far, Zeekr has confirmed one North American market where it plans to sell EVs: Mexico.
TopElectricSUV says
The Zeekr 007 is a high-tech and feature-loaded car with a premium design and a variety of luxury-class comfort and convenience features. It’s cheaper than the Tesla Model 3 and delivers a significantly higher range, too. I think it presents an excellent value for money in its segment.
Zeekr 007 FAQs
What is the Zeekr 007’s release date?
The Zeekr 007 is now on sale in China.
What is the price of the Zeekr 007?
The Zeekr 007’s launch prices begin at RMB 209,000 in China (USD 28,892)
Which cars are Zeekr 007 rivals?
I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.
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