China Claims This Is The First Electric Shooting Brake

Last month, Geely announced itsnew electric vehicle brandcalled Zeekr. With Geely's ownership of Volvo (a company that already has a fantastic EV in the form of theXC40 recharge) and LEVC (London EV Company),有充分的理由相信Zeekr卧室uld spawn some exciting models. Well, here it is. Zeekr's first product is also what is claimed to be the first mass-market pure electric shooting brake. It's called the 001 and is accompanied by a cheeky marketing campaign propelled by the line "No More Boring EVs".

That's quite a statement considering recent EV launches such as theAudi Q4 e-tronand the Mazda MX-30. Both are anything but boring, although we have to admit that introducing a new brand with ashooting brakeis a brave first step.

The Zeekr 001 is quite a good-looking vehicle, it must be said. The long, low body and especially large wheels give it a sporty stance, and details like the daytime running lights mounted high up give it a unique look. From the side, we noticed a mild resemblance to the Porsche Panamera Cross Turismo in the way that the rearmost pillar is acutely slanted forward.

The rear is sharp and modern, with distinctive lighting and the Zeekr name proudly positioned in the middle. The 001 uses two eMotors - one on each axle - with combined outputs of 536 horsepower and over 516 lb-ft of torque. With all-wheel-drive traction, it can reach 62 mph in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of over 124 mph. An adjustable air suspension is claimed to raise the ride height to the extent that the 001 can confidently deal with off-road trails. Two battery packs - 86 kWh and 100 kWh - will be offered.

Zeekr intends to launch its owncharging networkenabling 360-kW charging speeds. At this rate, the 001 can attain around 74 miles of range with just five minutes of charging time. Other than its powertrain, the 001 comes with some nifty tech such as over-the-air updates every quarter as well as facial recognition that can identify drivers as they approach and then adjust car settings accordingly.

Initially, the Zeekr 001 will launch in China with first deliveries in October 2021, before reaching global markets from 2022. There's no confirmation on those markets including North America.