Global EV brand Zeekr has officially entered the Australian car market, unveiling its X compact SUV at a media event held at Sydney’s Walsh Bay. It’s the first of two models to be launched this year, with its 009 MPV due closer to Christmas.
The Chinese car maker has established a full factory subsidiary in Australia and is currently working on a franchise dealership distribution model, with up to nine locations expected to be confirmed soon.
The Zeekr X will be available for pre-order in September, and the company has been actively collecting expressions of interest from Australian customers via its official website (with up to 1,000 already).
Zeekr, who’s name is essentially made up of zero, electric, and the letters for the light emitting chemical element krypton, is also a sponsor of the upcoming SXSW festival in Sydney, an influential platform for innovators, thought leaders, and change-makers.
The official public launch of Zeekr’s models will take place at this very event in October, with vehicle deliveries to follow shortly thereafter. The luxury brand is part of Geely Holding Group, who also own Lynk & Co, Volvo Cars, Polestar and Lotus, among others.
“Zeekr’s expansion into the Australian market brings our innovative and cutting-edge electric vehicles to a new audience, offering a unique driving experience that blends style, performance, and sustainability,” managing director Connal Yan said.
“By selecting SXSW Sydney as the stage for our launch, Zeekr is demonstrating its commitment to innovation, showcasing our products to a global audience, and setting the foundation for a future of limitless possibilities in sustainable mobility.”
The Zeekr X is built on the brand’s sustainable experience architecture (SEA), and will be launched in rear-wheel and all-wheel drive trims, priced sub-$60,000 and sub-$70,000 respectively, before on-road costs.
Offering a balance of design, technology, driving dynamics, performance and safety, together with an NEDC range around 540km (RWD), and fast charging. Utilising new battery tech, that means 10-80 per cent in less than 30 minutes (150kW DC fast charger).
The RWD model will offer 200kW of power and 343Nm of torque, with a 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.6 seconds. It rides on 19-inch alloys. Its AWD sibling jumps the numbers to 315kW and 543Nm, and a sprint to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds. It has a 470km range.
A 66kWh lithium-ion battery, neatly packaged beneath the floor to enhance interior space and lower the vehicle’s centre of gravity, aiding its dynamic handling and ability, uses nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) cells supplied by CATL for optimum energy density and durability.
Benefitting from an eight-year/160,000km warranty, the battery will – at end-of-life – be recycled in line with global directives. The car itself comes with a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty.
The Zeekr X’s 5G-enabled digital cockpit offers cutting-edge technology, a wealth of connected features, and intuitive controls to offer a truly immersive user experience, thanks to a Qualcomm 8155 chip, and over the air updates.
The 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system also benefits from the Zeekr voice assistant. Using natural voice commands, this intelligent, AI-powered technology enables effortless control of numerous vehicle features, such as navigation and climate.
It’s joined by an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and 24.3-inch augmented reality head-up display. When the vehicle is parked, several predefined convenience modes are also available.
Theatre mode sees the seats automatically adjust into the ideal position for enjoying music. In pet mode, the climate system maintains the cabin and the touchscreen displays a message to inform and reassure passers-by that the pets inside are comfortable and safe.
A security feature known as sentry mode is also offered, allowing the car to create a video of the area around the vehicle if suspicious activity is detected. Only the driver can access the recordings, which are stored in the car’s built-in storage or on a USB drive.
You can find out more about the new Zeekr X, as well as the company’s pending arrivals on their website, or by talking to your local dealership (once they’re open).
