Zeekr 001 FR – China’s Brute Force Response to the Model S Plaid

By Edward A. Sanchez — Sept. 11, 2023

The Tesla Model S Plaid shocked the automotive universe when it was first introduced in late 2021. With over 1,000 horsepower, and a 0-60 time of around 2 seconds, its level of performance was unprecedented in a series production model up to that point. But as Phil Royle has said many times on this blog and podcast, it’s not hard to make a fast EV.

What a time to be alive when a 1,000+ hp EV elicits little more than a shrug and “that’s cool.” Just because 1,000 hp EVs are becoming somewhat de rigueur doesn’t mean that companies aren’t still trying to make them. Enter the Zeekr 001 FR, a 1,200+ hp, quad-motor, large and in-charge crossover-ish EV touring sedan built in Ningbo, China, just south of Shanghai.

For those of you who think Zeekr is nothing more than a pop-up, fly-by-night EV brand, it’s part of the Geely Group, which also happens to be the parent company of Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, and London EV company, the modern-day iteration of the iconic London Taxi. The brand has started to enter the European market, and many believe it’s only a matter of time until it enters the U.S. market.

Enough with the history lesson. So what’s the nitty-gritty on the 001 FR? As mentioned, 1,200+ hp, (1,247, to be exact), quad motors, 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in a claimed 2.07 seconds, and a top speed of 280 km/h (174 mph). It features CATL’s next-generation Qilin battery pack, featuring Tesla-style 4680 cells with a 100 kWh capacity. Zeekr is claiming a peak 10-80% charge time of only 15 minutes. The FR is clearly packing some serious hardware. It also has a serious, but not altogether unreasonable (considering the specifications) price tag of 1 million Chinese Yuan (approximately $139,000).

Styling is subjective. It may not have the restrained elegance of the Model S or Lucid Air, but it has a chiseled aggression that shows it means business, accentuated by an aggressive front fascia and prominent rear decklid wing.

Geely has made no official announcements about if or when the Zeekr brand will come to North America, although it is telling that the division is looking to do an IPO (initial public offering) in the U.S. and is actively soliciting potential investors.

China’s overt aggression on the geopolitical stage may be its own worst enemy in terms of opening foreign markets to its newly emergent and competitive automotive market. But China has had decades of experience contract manufacturing for global brands such as Apple, Nike, and countless other well-known and regarded consumer brands. Its economy has matured to the point where its technological sophistication is at a level where it’s a peer (or even ahead) of its foreign rivals. The Zeekr 001 may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it should put the world on notice that China is ready to play on the world stage, and that it’s playing to win.

(Images courtesy Zeekr)