Ice driving has always been on my bucket list, but I never expected it to be in Chinese electric SUVs. Nevertheless, when the editor of Exhaust Notes Australia offered a chance to attend the inaugural Zeekr Ice Experience, the decision was not a difficult one.
The purpose of the trip: for Zeekr to score publicity for its customer experience, which forms part of a plan to establish itself among traditional luxury brands. Nice cars are one thing, but if you can make a customer feel part of a ‘family’, there’s a good chance of repeat business.
Unusually, however, there is a scientific element to this. One thing electric cars, especially those of the dual-motor performance kind, struggle with is apportioning their often prodigious power and torque between the axles in a way that feels natural and predictable.
With vehicles ranging from 365-1030kW and no mechanical link between the front and rear wheels, will the software cope, or will the complete lack of traction send their respective electronic brains into meltdown and simply have them sitting stationary?
Alternatively, will they attempt to burrow their way through the mountain back to sea level? Like many of its competitors’ programs, the home of Zeekr On Ice is the Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground outside Queenstown in New Zealand.
It’s used by manufacturers the world over to hone traction and stability systems of their forthcoming vehicles. If nothing else this venue provides the most staggering scenery you’ll ever see.
It could be described as straight from a fantasy novel were it not for the fact that no one’s imagination could possibly be this vivid. One thing the Zeekr program doesn’t lack is variety. Our vehicle lineup included the X, 7X and 7GT EVs.
Along for the ride were the new 8X and 9X plug-in hybrids and even a solitary 001 FR, the 930kW supercar-scaring monster capable of 0-100km/h in 2.02 seconds, though probably not on snow and ice. Only the 009 people-mover escapes, more’s the pity.
Zeekr also fits the cars with suitable rubber, Continental winter tyres with small metal studs, to afford at least some level of traction on a surface that is perilous to walk on. After the obligatory safety briefings, the driving begins.
It’s done in a very similar manner to your typical advanced driving course. Exercises for identifying and rectifying understeer and oversteer, before moving on to linking a pair of hairpin turns and a faster slalom.
Each car is remarkably different in its behaviour. The Zeekr X is closer to your typical petrol AWD, while the rear-biased 7GT slews sideways into its lock stops with a touch of its sensitive throttle. The 7X sits somewhere between the two.
That inconsistency does rear its head, possibly exacerbated by a surface that is constantly changing thanks to the combination of huge power and studded tyres sending rooster tails of powder soaring into the sky.
As a result, you tend to drive reactively and the vehicles sometimes respond differently to the same input. With more time it might be possible to build up a level of connection with the car, but with only a couple of runs on each exercise, mastery proves elusive.
For the slalom, the larger 8X and 9X come into play and instead of attempting to scribe a neat, minimalist line, we are encouraged to play flick-and-catch past each cone while trying to avoid a three-ton tank slapper.
The 9X is enormously opulent, looking like the love-child of a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a Range Rover. It’s the first time I’ve slalomed while having a massage, but there’s a surprisingly biddable chassis here.
All it takes is a dab of throttle building speed, a jab of steering generating angle and a stab of brake holding it in play, before the process starts again. Fun. A break for lunch is longer than anticipated due to unforeseen circumstances closing mountain operations.
Instead, the crew rally to allow us to tackle the gymkhana course in the afternoon. Now we’re talking. The wider expanses offer a bit more speed and the various Zeekr chassis are responsive enough to allow you to dance with the car.
In my case, that was to attempt to tango, only to get over enthusiastic and fall flat on my face in a world-class display of plough understeer. All part of the fun and that’s what this environment is for, to safely push limits that would otherwise be inadvisable to cross.
It’s a massive laugh, especially when you get it right and the vehicle is engulfed in snow like you’ve driven into a blizzard. Nevertheless, Zeekr On Ice isn’t quite the bucket list experience I had hoped for.
Don’t get me wrong, skidding around in other people’s cars is always fantastic, but if I approach it as a customer who had paid NZ$5500 (~A$4500, excluding flights) I think it would depend on the person’s level of driving experience.
If you’ve never done anything like it before you’re almost guaranteed to have an awesome time, but those looking for another ice driving experience after previous visits might find it a little basic.
Then again, if the concept gains traction – pardon the pun – perhaps Zeekr will offer an ‘Advanced’ or ‘Masters’ course for returning visitors or those wanting the next level of instruction?
The other point is that the price includes much more than the ice driving experience. The helicopter flight off the mountain at day’s end is an extraordinary experience, not to mention two nights at the Millbrook Resort and some truly sensational food.
Ground transfers aren’t typically worth a mention, but when you’re in the heated captain’s chair of a Zeekr 009 getting a massage, that’s pretty good, too. Perhaps the greatest advantage of the event is that it future proofs snow skids for a post-fossil fuel world.
To oversteer in silence and with zero emissions feels somehow appropriate in New Zealand’s pristine wilderness.
Exhaust Notes Australia attended Zeekr On Ice as an invited guest. We were not paid to attend this event.
