Latest news with #Zeekr7X
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Zeekr 7X review: The best premium electric SUV you can't buy (yet)
If the Zeekr 7X were on sale in the UK right now, it would lay claim to being one of the best premium, mid-size, all-electric SUVs you can buy – assuming the price is right. Sadly, we're going to have to wait until 2026 before we can buy one, by which time this fast-moving market may well have moved on. Regardless, the Zeekr 7X offers a feeling of quality that doesn't exist in the Tesla Model Y and is missing from many other rivals. It does what it needs to do well, if not spectacularly. The look is smart but generic, while the drive needs a bit more work for UK roads. We expect the 7X will get a few tweaks before next year to give it a better balance between feeling slightly floaty over dips, crests and through corners, while having a firm-ish ride at lower speeds. The interior has some clever storage touches, some neat tech features like powered doors that open and close automatically, a lovely 16in touchscreen and plenty of space. The range for the big battery car we drove is good at 382 miles and 400kW fast charging is seriously impressive. Find the right charger and the 7X can go from 10 to 80 per cent in around 16 minutes. How we tested Zeekr and the 7X are expected to come to the UK next year, but until then we grabbed the chance to get behind the wheel of a 7X in Zeekr's hometown of Hangzhou in China. We drove it on Chinese urban roads and considered its performance in all the most important areas of any new SUV. Zeekr 7X: From £45,000 (est), Independent rating: 8/10 Pros Fast charging tech, nicely made, lots of advanced kit Cons You can say the same about a host of other EV SUVs Zeekr 7X specs Price range £45,000 to £60,000 (est) Battery size 75 & 100kWh Maximum claimed range 382 miles Miles per kWh 3.5 Maximum charging rate 400kW Battery, range, charging, performance and drive We drove the top-spec 100kWh Zeekr 7X, which claims an impressive range of 382 miles, almost matching the Tesla Model Y. However, it outpunches the Tesla when it comes to charging speeds of up to 400kW, meaning even that big battery can get a 10 to 80 per cent charge in just 16 minutes – if there's a suitable fast charger to hand. In addition to the 100kWh battery, Zeekr is likely to also offer a 75kWh battery with a range just shy of 298 miles. The 10 to 80 per cent charge time drops to 13 minutes for this version. On our test drive in China we found the Zeekr had a slightly odd ride. The car is firm at low speeds, but the body control was a little slack, meaning you're likely to find your head bobbing as you go around corners or over longer undulations – that's a rare combination. Zeekr tells us that it will tweak the car's suspension before the car goes on sale in the UK and we didn't find it uncomfortable anyway. The air suspension does make it easy to adjust the car's height, which Zeekr claims gives the car some mild off-roading ability as well as tackling speed humps. There's no doubting the 7X's performance either – it's mighty quick with a best 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds. The inside of the Zeekr 7X is beautifully made, spacious and clever. It's also easy to get in and out. The front doors are powered so you just press a button on the door pillar to open them, get in and put your foot on the brake to both start the car and shut the door. The rear doors open to nearly 90 degrees for easy access, so you pretty much just step in and sit down. There's loads of space in the back too, with a lovely full-length panoramic sunroof and clever drawers under the rear seats. The front seats are comfortable with heating, ventilation and massaging functions. But it's the tasteful blend of quality materials that give the 7X a real premium feel inside. Like the rest of the car, the interior has been designed in Europe in Zeekr's design studio in Gothenburg, and it shows – the quality on display is a league above the rival Tesla Model Y. There's good storage space inside the car, a decent-sized frunk under the bonnet and a huge 539l boot with fold-down rear seats too. Technology, stereo and infotainment As you'd expect from a Chinese car maker, the Zeekr 7X is packed with tech. There's every conceivable safety system on board, plus driver assistance features that will all be updated over the air via the car's 5G data connection. The 16in touchscreen looks good and features the latest Snapdragon chip, so it works quickly and smoothly. There are a few hard keys beneath the display, but lots of the controls will still need to go through the screen, or via voice control – which worked well on our test drive in China. There's a digital display in front of the driver plus, on our car, the best head-up display we've ever used. It measures 36in diagonally, features speed and navigation information, and will even show you live video footage of your blind spots when you indicate to change lanes. Our car had a Dolby Atmos audio system on board, which included speakers in the headrests. Those speakers are also used for some of the instructions coming from the infotainment system. Prices and running costs We're unlikely to see Zeekr cars in the UK until early 2026 – discussions with potential dealers are ongoing – but prices are set to be competitive with the big-selling Tesla Model Y. Zeekr Europe lists three models on its website: a Core rear-wheel drive model with a 75kWh battery that we'd expect to cost around £45,000, a Long Range rear-wheel drive car with a 100kWh battery that we think would cost just over £50,000, and then the range-topping Privilege all-wheel drive car with the biggest battery that will likely get a price just over £55,000. Zeekr already has a European base, which should help with the supply of parts and lead to lower insurance costs. And the impressive ranges that Zeekr claims puts the 7X on a par with the Tesla and ahead of some other rivals. Zeekr 7X rivals Tesla Model Y Xpeng G6 Kia EV6 FAQs How long does it take to charge? The Zeekr 7X gets 800V technology with super-fast charging at up to 400kW. Zeekr says the small battery will get a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 13 minutes, with the 100kWh battery taking just three minutes longer. How much does it cost - is it worth it? When the Zeekr 7X eventually arrives in the UK, we'd expect it to be competitive against the Tesla Model Y – our guess would be a price range from around £45,000 to just over £55,000. As with all EVs, Zeekr will guarantee the battery for eight years. Why trust us Our team of motoring experts have decades of experience driving, reviewing and reporting on the latest EV cars, and our verdicts are reached with every kind of driver in mind. We thoroughly test drive every car we recommend, so you can be sure our verdicts are honest, unbiased and authentic. The verdict: Zeekr 7X The Zeekr 7X is designed and engineered in Gothenburg and built in China for a Chinese brand, and it has the might of Geely behind it. It's very impressive too, but finding a real point of difference in an increasingly crowded market is the biggest challenge facing this lesser known brand.
Malay Mail
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Zeekr 7X takes the stage at Malaysia Autoshow 2025 ahead of official Q3 launch
KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — The Zeekr 7X is expect to launch in Malaysia on Q3 2025 but here's your chance to get an early preview this coming weekend. This is Zeekr's premium 5-seater SUV which would take on the likes of the Porsche Macan EV, BMW iX2 and the Mini Countryman. The Zeekr 7X is officially making its first local debut at the Malaysia Autoshow 2025 that's happening from May 9 to 15, 2025 at MAEPS Serdang. The new EV will be on display at their booth where you can check it out in person. Malaysia Autoshow 2025 is a ticketed event but you can claim your free ticket at Zeekr Space IOI Mall Puchong, while stocks last. You can claim your free ticket at Zeekr Space IOI Mall Puchong, while stocks last. — Picture via Facebook/Zeekr Malaysia The Zeekr 7X is a premium, fully electric D-segment SUV that's built on Geely's 800V Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform. In China, there are 3 variants which include a RWD model with a 75kWh 800V LFP Golden battery with 605km CLTC-rated range and it supports 10-80 per cent DC fast charging in just 10.5 minutes. Stepping up a notch is the Long Range RWD model which has a larger CATL-sourced 100kWh 800V NMC battery that boasts up to 780km of CLTC-rated range. It can do 10-80 per cent DC charging in just 15 minutes. Both RWD variants of the Zeekr 7X get a single motor pushing 310kW (416hp) and 440Nm of torque, and it can do 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds. Meanwhile, the range topping AWD version gets a twin-motor setup that produces a combined 475kW (637hp) and 710Nm of torque. This performance variant can do 0-100km/h in just 3.8 seconds. Similar to the Long Range RWD model, it also gets a 100kWh 800V NMC battery from CATL but the CLTC-rated range is slightly shorter at 705km. DC fast charging from 10-80 per cent also takes 15 minutes. The Zeekr 7X also supports Vehicle-to-Load, which includes a power outlet located in the boot. — SoyaCincau pic The Zeekr 7X also supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) which includes a power outlet located in the boot. In China, this EV also supports Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) functionality, allowing the Zeekr 7X to DC charge another EV up to 60kW. Depending on spec and configuration, you can get the Zeekr 7X with powered doors and there's also a Smart B-pillar with integrated camera and touch screen. On the inside, the China-spec SUV gets a Zeekr Sound Pro Premium Audio system that features 21 speakers that produces 2160W of peak power with Dolby Atmos. The Zeekr 7X tech feature list continues with a large 16″ 3.5K mini-LED display on the centre, a 13.02″ digital instruyment cluster and a 36.21″ AR head-up display (HUD). To pamper your Very Important Passenger at the rear, there's also a powered reclining sofa seat with massaging feature, complete with a fold down table and built-in tablet display behind the front passenger seat. Another neat party trick is its dynamic display below the EV's clamshell hood cover. It has 1800 LEDs that can be customised with text and various patterns. In China, the Zeekr 7X is priced from CNY 229,900 (about RM140,630) for the base RWD model with a smaller 75kWh LFP battery and up to CNY 269,900 (about RM165,100) for the range topping AWD version with the larger 100kWh NMC battery. We don't have any indicative Malaysian pricing details yet but we are guessing that the Zeekr 7X could be priced anywhere between RM220,000 to RM280,000. — SoyaCincau
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Foreign carmakers strive for 'China Speed' to stay in race
In fluid synchronisation, dozens of robotic arms picked up metal parts and welded them onto vehicle beds, as car skeletons gradually took shape and progressed along an automated factory floor near the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo. Across the country, car models rolling off assembly lines like this have gone from concept to release in record time -- known in the industry as "China Speed", the envy of foreign competitors. At EV firm Zeekr's vast Ningbo plant, advanced robotics and artificial intelligence have been leveraged at every stage of the manufacturing process to save huge amounts of time and money. In the casting shop, a robotic arm that towered over the human foremen supervising it picked up a freshly made piece of aluminium and dunked it into a vat of water, sending steam hissing out, before passing the metal to another machine to cut and press it. The factory still employs around 2,500 workers to do some delicate tasks and for quality control. But the heavy lifting is done by hundreds of tireless robots, with some processes going on 24 hours a day. And it's not just manufacturing that has been accelerated. Zeekr has a research and development base in Sweden, which allows workloads to be shared across timezones. Its parent company, Geely, also owns Swedish automaker Volvo. In the factory's car park, hundreds of gleaming, plate-less Zeekr 7X SUVs stood ready to be transported to dealerships. "The future is our history," read a slogan above the entrance hall. - 'Make-or-break moment' - Factories and companies like this have set a new pace in the industry. "We are at a make-or-break moment for established global automakers," a recent report by consulting firm Bain & Company said. En route to the factory, AFP saw lorries carrying brand new Zeekr cars headed to Ningbo's huge port, bound for export to places like Australia. The most innovative Chinese manufacturers spend less than a third of that spent by traditional competitors to develop new vehicles, the Bain report said. While legacy automakers often take 48 to 54 months to bring out new models, the timeline for younger brands is more like 24 to 30, it added. Some of Zeekr's models only took 15 months to develop, a spokesman told AFP. The results are clear in the sheer choice available to consumers: There are currently 2,755 models on offer from 163 brands in the Chinese market, authorities say. At industry show Auto Shanghai, which opened Wednesday, more than 100 new models were launched. Jostling in the pack were not just Chinese firms like Zeekr, BYD and Chery, but also foreign rivals hitting the gas to catch up. Volkswagen and Nissan launched tens of new models developed "in China for China" at the show, with executives insisting they had adapted to "China Speed". The acceleration has been helped by the shift towards EVs, disposing of the complex internal combustion engine. "You start by designing the car virtually, making as few prototypes as possible, so you can move very quickly," BCG consultant Mikael Le Mouellic told AFP. Design and engineering will then work hand-in-hand, and often "reuse recipes that work", he added. Zeekr's "Sustainable Experience Architecture", for example, can be the bed for A-class to E-class cars, saving time and money. - Three years to nine months - Foreign suppliers have also had to adapt. Traditionally, companies could take up to three years to design, for example, a new headlamp, said Michael Fischer, boss at French automotive parts maker Forvia. "In China that doesn't work," he said. Now, "we have a process that is going to be very organised, that's going to secure for quality, but can bring up a new headlamp in as little as nine months". At competitor Valeo's factory in Changshu, north of Shanghai, four large robots assembled LED headlamps for Zeekr and other brands. "We don't work 24/7!" joked Valeo's innovation manager in China, Gu Jianmin. "But we use existing solutions, and we work upstream with the automakers." Development and durability tests that "would have taken months" are helped along by AI and other technology. "Chinese manufacturers are a little more demanding. But foreigners are trying to catch up," said Gu. "To emerge in China, you have to be at the same level as the locals." tsz-reb/sco
New Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Foreign carmakers strive for 'China Speed' to stay in race
IN fluid synchronisation, dozens of robotic arms picked up metal parts and welded them onto vehicle beds, as car skeletons gradually took shape and progressed along an automated factory floor near the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo. Across the country, car models rolling off assembly lines like this have gone from concept to release in record time — known in the industry as "China Speed", the envy of foreign competitors. At electric vehicle firm Zeekr's vast Ningbo plant, advanced robotics and artificial intelligence have been leveraged at every stage of the manufacturing process to save huge amounts of time and money. In the casting shop, a robotic arm that towered over the human foremen supervising it picked up a freshly made piece of aluminium and dunked it into a vat of water, sending steam hissing out, before passing the metal to another machine to cut and press it. The factory employs around 2,500 workers to do some delicate tasks and for quality control. But the heavy lifting is done by hundreds of tireless robots, with some processes going on 24 hours a day. And it's not just manufacturing that has been accelerated. Zeekr has a research and development base in Sweden, which allows workloads to be shared across timezones. Its parent company, Geely, also owns Swedish automaker Volvo. In the factory's car park, hundreds of gleaming, plate-less Zeekr 7X SUVs stood ready to be transported to dealerships. "The future is our history," read a slogan above the entrance hall. Factories and companies like this have set a new pace in the industry. "We are at a make-or-break moment for established global automakers," a recent report by consulting firm Bain & Company said. En route to the factory, AFP saw lorries carrying brand new Zeekr cars headed to Ningbo's huge port, bound for export to places like Australia. The most innovative Chinese manufacturers spend less than a third of that spent by traditional competitors to develop new vehicles, the Bain report said. While legacy automakers often take 48 to 54 months to bring out new models, the timeline for younger brands is more like 24 to 30, it added. Some of Zeekr's models took only 15 months to develop, a spokesman said. The results are clear in the sheer choice available to consumers: there are 2,755 models on offer from 163 brands in the Chinese market, authorities say. At industry show Auto Shanghai, which opened on Wednesday, more than 100 new models were launched. Jostling in the pack were not just Chinese firms like Zeekr, BYD and Chery, but also foreign rivals hitting the gas to catch up. Volkswagen and Nissan launched tens of new models developed "in China for China" at the show, with executives insisting they had adapted to "China Speed". The acceleration has been helped by the shift towards EVs, disposing of the complex internal combustion engine. "You start by designing the car virtually, making as few prototypes as possible, so you can move very quickly," BCG consultant Mikael Le Mouellic said. Design and engineering will then work hand in hand, and often "reuse recipes that work", he added. Zeekr's "Sustainable Experience Architecture", for example, can be the bed for A-class to E-class cars, saving time and money. Foreign suppliers have also had to adapt. Traditionally, companies could take up to three years to design, for example, a new headlamp, said Michael Fischer, boss at French automotive parts maker Forvia. "In China that doesn't work," he said. Now, "we have a process that is going to be very organised, that's going to secure for quality, but can bring up a new headlamp in as little as nine months". At competitor Valeo's factory in Changshu, north of Shanghai, four large robots assembled LED headlamps for Zeekr and other brands. "We don't work 24/7!" joked Valeo's innovation manager in China, Gu Jianmin. "But we use existing solutions, and we work upstream with the automakers." Development and durability tests that "would have taken months" are helped along by AI and other technology. "Chinese manufacturers are a little more demanding. But foreigners are trying to catch up," said Gu. "To emerge in China, you have to be at the same level as the locals."
Malay Mail
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
China Speed: How Zeekr's robotic revolution is reshaping the global auto industry
NINGBO (China), April 27 — In fluid synchronisation, dozens of robotic arms picked up metal parts and welded them onto vehicle beds, as car skeletons gradually took shape and progressed along an automated factory floor near the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo. Across the country, car models rolling off assembly lines like this have gone from concept to release in record time – known in the industry as 'China Speed', the envy of foreign competitors. At EV firm Zeekr's vast Ningbo plant, advanced robotics and artificial intelligence have been leveraged at every stage of the manufacturing process to save huge amounts of time and money. In the casting shop, a robotic arm that towered over the human foremen supervising it picked up a freshly made piece of aluminium and dunked it into a vat of water, sending steam hissing out, before passing the metal to another machine to cut and press it. The factory still employs around 2,500 workers to do some delicate tasks and for quality control. But the heavy lifting is done by hundreds of tireless robots, with some processes going on 24 hours a day. And it's not just manufacturing that has been accelerated. Zeekr has a research and development base in Sweden, which allows workloads to be shared across timezones. Its parent company, Geely, also owns Swedish automaker Volvo. In the factory's car park, hundreds of gleaming, plate-less Zeekr 7X SUVs stood ready to be transported to dealerships. 'The future is our history,' read a slogan above the entrance hall. 'Make-or-break moment' Factories and companies like this have set a new pace in the industry. 'We are at a make-or-break moment for established global automakers,' a recent report by consulting firm Bain & Company said. En route to the factory, AFP saw lorries carrying brand new Zeekr cars headed to Ningbo's huge port, bound for export to places like Australia. The most innovative Chinese manufacturers spend less than a third of that spent by traditional competitors to develop new vehicles, the Bain report said. While legacy automakers often take 48 to 54 months to bring out new models, the timeline for younger brands is more like 24 to 30, it added. Some of Zeekr's models only took 15 months to develop, a spokesman told AFP. The results are clear in the sheer choice available to consumers: There are currently 2,755 models on offer from 163 brands in the Chinese market, authorities say. Visitors are seen in the Zeekr stand during the 21st Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre in Shanghai, China on April 24, 2025. — AFP pic At industry show Auto Shanghai, which opened Wednesday, more than 100 new models were launched. Jostling in the pack were not just Chinese firms like Zeekr, BYD and Chery, but also foreign rivals hitting the gas to catch up. Volkswagen and Nissan launched tens of new models developed 'in China for China' at the show, with executives insisting they had adapted to 'China Speed'. The acceleration has been helped by the shift towards EVs, disposing of the complex internal combustion engine. 'You start by designing the car virtually, making as few prototypes as possible, so you can move very quickly,' BCG consultant Mikael Le Mouellic told AFP. Design and engineering will then work hand-in-hand, and often 'reuse recipes that work', he added. Zeekr's 'Sustainable Experience Architecture', for example, can be the bed for A-class to E-class cars, saving time and money. Three years to nine months Foreign suppliers have also had to adapt. Traditionally, companies could take up to three years to design, for example, a new headlamp, said Michael Fischer, boss at French automotive parts maker Forvia. 'In China that doesn't work,' he said. Now, 'we have a process that is going to be very organised, that's going to secure for quality, but can bring up a new headlamp in as little as nine months'. At competitor Valeo's factory in Changshu, north of Shanghai, four large robots assembled LED headlamps for Zeekr and other brands. 'We don't work 24/7!' joked Valeo's innovation manager in China, Gu Jianmin. 'But we use existing solutions, and we work upstream with the automakers.' Development and durability tests that 'would have taken months' are helped along by AI and other technology. 'Chinese manufacturers are a little more demanding. But foreigners are trying to catch up,' said Gu. 'To emerge in China, you have to be at the same level as the locals.' — AFP
