Massachusetts man test drives 1300 HP Chinese EV and can't believe it's actually legal
Published on Jul 29, 2025 at 6:08 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Jul 29, 2025 at 9:00 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
This Massachusetts YouTuber had the chance to test drive several Chinese cars, including the Zeekr 001 FR, a 1,300-horsepower Chinese EV.
This car is so fast that this YouTuber doesn’t know how it’s even legal.
And yet it is legal.
Not only did the speed surprise him, but the price left him flabbergasted.
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This Chinese EV is potentially faster than the Tesla Plaid
A while back, Rich Benoit – aka Rich Rebuilds on YouTube – traveled to Alaska to test drive a lot of different Chinese cars, all of which were electric.
Zeekr, a Chinese brand, saw the video and gave him a Zeekr 001 FR, a 1,300-horsepower SUV, to drive around and test in Massachusetts.
It has 1,248 horsepower (to be exact), it can turn on the spot like a tank, and more importantly it does 0-60 in about 2 seconds, around the same time as the Model S Plaid.
It accelerates so violently and abruptly that it’s almost scary.
Rich was so impressed, he said he was fully convinced these cars were good enough to rival Tesla.
“The Chinese, they know how to build a sports car. I know why Tesla doesn’t want it here,” Rich said in the video.
The price is a bit surprising
Rightly or wrongly, Chinese cars are stereotypically expected to be cheap, but this one isn’t.
The Xiaomi SU7, for example, starts at around $30,000.
Then there’s the Small Sports Car SC01.
The fact it has 429 horsepower but only costs 30,000 will easily make you gloss over the questionable name.
Unfortunately, the Zeekr 001 FR is expensive, with a starting price in China of around $105,000.
It would cost even more in the US or Europe.
Obviously, $100,000+ for a vehicle this fast and powerful is still a good deal, but it can’t be considered a cheap car.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
