Zeekr is one of China’s lesser-known EV brands but its latest product reveal should remarkably enhance its standing.
Like Volvo and Polestar, Zeekr is owned by Geely, and its 001 estate car has evolved into something spectacular. The 001 FR takes Zeekr’s EV estate car platform, adds more motors – and a lot more performance.
There is no shortage of extremely powerful vehicles in the EV market, but even in that context, the 001 FR is impressive. Its powertrain features four silicon carbide motors, each powering an individual wheel, guaranteeing exemplary traction and the advantage of torque vectoring driving dynamics.
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All the power and 800V charging
Peak power rates at 1,265hp and claimed 0-62mph acceleration is an absurdly quick 2.07 seconds.
The Zeekr 001 FR draws its power from a 100kWh battery pack and benefits from an 800V electrical architecture. What does that mean? Reasonably rapid charging, despite the sizeable battery pack, with Zeekr promising 10- to 80% battery capacity recharging in only 15 minutes.
Aside from the enormous performance potential and powerful motors, does the 001 FR offer a potentially harmonised driving experience? Possibly. Zeekr has shown prescient engineering awareness by upgrading the 001’s brakes to Brembos, accounting for the FR version’s additional performance.
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Lighter, more aero
Other differences between the standard 001 and the 001 FR include carbon fibre body panels, which serve the dual purpose of reducing weight and increasing downforce, which should aid in tracking stability at speed.
But what about agility and a rewarding driving experience? Zeekr is keen for the 001 FR not merely to be a straight-line hypercar humbling estate. The driving experience also benefits from intricate torque vectoring, integrating all four-wheel motors, controlled by sophisticated driving dynamics software.
Unlike the 001, Zeekr is limiting production of its 001 FR to only 99 units per month.
