There simply aren't enough customers for electric cars. So now another car brand is putting its goal of building only electric cars on the shelf. Now it's Volvo's sister brand Zeekr.
Zeekr surprises at the Shanghai Motor Show with its flagship model, the 9X. It's a plug-in hybrid with a gasoline engine and the world's longest electric range. At least for that type of SUV.
Zeekr has introduced a new model, the Zeekr 9X. The car is a plug-in hybrid. It marks a shift for the brand, which has so far only focused on pure electric cars.
The Zeekr 9X is a large car and the brand's new flagship with a remarkably long electric range.
The presentation took place at the Shanghai Motor Show. Here Zeekr showed the car to the public for the first time. The ambition is a position clearly at the top of the model range.
The Zeekr 9X is also a physically large car. It has a distinctive and different design than the brand's other cars. The front has a large, vertical radiator grille. Cough, cough, Rolls-Royce…
The car is described by Zeekr himself as “majestic, but not intimidating.” Whatever that means.
The most striking thing, however, is the car's powertrain. Zeekr has so far marketed itself as a purely electric car brand. The 9X is the brand's first car with a gasoline engine on board.
Zeekr 9X: Hybrid technology and long range
The brand states that the new powertrain will combine several advantages at once. It will provide the benefits of both pure electric drive and plug-in hybrid technology.
The electric range is stated to be a whopping 380 kilometers. This is measured according to the Chinese driving cycle (CLTC), which is in many ways even more misleading than the European WLTP standard.
The range is significantly longer than many other plug-in hybrids on the market today. When the battery runs out of power, a gasoline engine steps in. It is a 2.0-liter engine.
The engine produces 279 horsepower. Its primary task is to generate power for the battery. The car thus functions as a 'reverse' hybrid, with the gasoline engine playing an auxiliary role.
The Zeekr 9X is also equipped with advanced technology. It will have, among other things, a lidar sensor like its sister car, the Volvo EX90. Something that the Chinese, however, have more than difficulty getting to work. Read more about it here .
Performance, charging and technology in Zeekr 9X
The Lidar sensor enables advanced driver assistance systems. The car's systems place it at level 3 on the so-called SAE scale for self-driving technology. This means that the car can drive itself under specific conditions.
However, the driver must always be prepared to take over control at short notice. Level 3 is a step up from most current systems on the market.
Performance also looks set to be significant. The car should be able to accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just three seconds.
The large battery can be charged at Zeekr's own charging stations. The brand is developing chargers that support high charging power. But how high is not yet known.
It is still unclear whether the Zeekr 9X will be launched in Europe. The brand has not officially announced any European plans for this specific model.
However, Zeekr has already been introduced in selected markets in Europe with the models 001 and X. There are also plans for a Danish launch.
