After the 001 and 009, Zeekr works on the modifications and development of its modern electric car, the Zeekr 003. This then presents the form of a compact SUV that is still very camouflaged, designed for release in Europe. Expected for the next few months, this will create excitement in the Renault Mégane E-Tech and other Volkswagen ID.3.
In case you haven't heard of Zeekr before, that should change soon. Because the Chinese company, which is part of the Geely Group together with Volvo, Lotus or even Link & Co., is on its way to becoming a pillar of the automobile market. If it is currently promoted only in its country, it will soon conquer Europe, like BYD, Nio or even Xpeng. This does not disappoint or diminish the concern of specialists.
Model designed for Europe
Last November, the company founded in 2021 officially presented its 009, a large luxury truck that will soon be in production. The version designed in cooperation with Volvo for the Chinese market. A few months later, at the beginning of January, it was the turn of the Zeekr 001, a fierce electric competitor of the Tesla Model 3, to show the audited and very promising technical specifications in a new version with 1000 km of autonomy.
But it is clear that the manufacturing company does not intend to stop there, especially as it plans to develop in the European market. For that, you need more than a sedan and a monster truck, which probably won't come to us. That's how Zeekr just released a series of fake spy photos aired on Autohome's website showing off their upcoming model. It goes by the name 003 and is still heavily camouflaged, in full testing on European roads.
With its painted body making the lettering difficult to read, this new compact SUV appears to have a front very close to the 001, reminiscent of the one already offered by Lynk & Co. Logical when we know that both signs The two companies belong to the same group. Thus we find a similar vertical optic, crossed by a thin strip of light at the front. The design of the car seems to have been worked to ensure optimal aerodynamics, among other things with a steering wheel integrated into the chassis.
However, keep in mind that the SUV is equipped with real mirrors, not cameras. At the back there are lights with a special, unique and very modern design, then it takes the form of a simple light. We all see what look like vertical reflectors just below. The new Zeekr 003 should be about 4.38 meters longer, or 11 cm longer than the Smart #1, one of its main competitors.
up to 1000 km?
The wheelbase should be 2.75 meters, which should comfortably accommodate passengers. No driving scene photos have been released yet, but a photo of the Zeekr 001 with its 14.7-inch touchscreen and 8.8-inch digital phone may be close. However, we have to wait before we know more about it.
No Details are given on the spec sheet of this upcoming Zeekr 003, which may adopt the engine of its bigger sister. As a reminder, it exists in several versions, with a range of 546 to 1032 kilometers on a single charge according to the Chinese CLTC cycle. The latter is much more optimistic than our WLTP and it shouldremoved about 15%, which gives a maximum range of 850 to 900 km.
The electric SUV can be equipped with the Qilin CTP 3.0 battery developed by the Chinese giant CATL. Using cell-in-pack technology with cells integrated into the frame, the 001 has a capacity of 100 kWh to 140 kWh. A competitor to the Tesla 4680 battery, it can be recharged in 10 minutes at a fast station that offers much more than the 360 kW currently available in France. Perhaps this is possible with Nio's 500kW charging stations currently under development.
This new Zeekr 003 should see the light of day in the coming months, after being unveiled at the Shanghai show next April. It will first be sold in China before coming to Europe soon. Thus, it has to compete directly with the Renault Mégane E-Tech and the Volkswagen ID.3, but also with the MG 4 and its unbeatable price in its class.
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