New EV predicted to be ‘Tesla killer’ is coming next year
Published on Oct 10, 2023 at 8:13 PM (UTC+4)
by Adam Gray
Last updated on Oct 11, 2023 at 4:32 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Zeekr may have only been formed a few years ago, but the EV maker’s been keeping itself busy.
It’s already unveiled the 001 estate, the X crossover and the 009 minivan.
Now the Geely-owned sub-brand is getting in on the performance estate market with the 001 FR.
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Tesla better watch its back, as the Zeekr 001 FR will come out all guns blazing when it arrives next year.
The predicted ‘Tesla killer’ comes with four silicon carbide electric motors – one on each wheel – pumping out a frankly terrifying 1,265 bhp.
Apparently, it’s good for a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 2.07 seconds with the aid of an American style one-foot rollout.
That’s even faster the new Lotus Eletre Hyper-SUV – and that thing’s faster than most supercars.
To put it into perspective, the tri-motor Tesla Model S Plaid can do the zero to 60 mph (0-97 km/h) sprint in 1.99 seconds with the same rollout.
It’s impossible to say which would be faster under identical conditions without testing them, but it’s worth noting that the Zeekr has a lower top speed.
The 001 FR has a top speed of ‘just’ 174 mph (280 km/h) compared with 200 mph (321 km/h) for the Tesla.
The Zeekr 001 FR uses a 100kWh battery pack and an 800V architecture with 10 to 80 percent charging taking just 15 minutes.
High-performance Brembo brakes should make sure you stop about as quickly as you can accelerate, and there’s carbon fiber bodywork to both reduce weight and add downforce.
And because each of the 001 FR’s electric motors is invidually controlled with torque vectoring software, it can even do tank turns like the YangWang U8.
Apparently the 001 FR is the first production car to use a built-in ‘satellite communications pack’ that links up with Geely’s own satellites.
This is so that you’re never left without signal, which would be rather handy.
Other than production being limited to just 99 units per month, and the first allocation selling out in 19 seconds, that’s all we know about the Zeekr 001 FR for the moment.
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Adam Gray is an experienced freelance motoring journalist and content creator based in the United Kingdom. Using his media accreditation with manufacturers’ press offices, Adam test drives the latest cars and attends new vehicle press launches, producing written reviews and news pieces for a variety of lifestyle and business publications. Here at Supercar Blondie, Adam applies his journalistic skills penning social-first content around current news and trends. When he’s not behind the wheel of the latest car or writing up another viral story, Adam can be found at his local rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC.
