Geely’s EV-only brand, Zeekr, is going after Europe’s bigger SUVs with its 7X, toting 100kWh of … [+] battery capacity and sub-four second sprinting. Even with 4.8 meters of length, it’s only a five-seater. Photo: Zeekr.
Geely’s electric-only brand Zeekr is going after Europe’s large-sized SUV market with the 7X, which will launch in China next month, before heading to Europe late next year.
Zeekr showed the 7X this week, revealing an SUV of similar proportions to Volkswagen’s just-renewed Toureg and reaching out to 4.8 meters long.
Twinned with the Smart #5, the 7X will be the third Zeekr crossover EV on European roads after its Zeekr 001 and the Zeekr X.
Having taken full control of Smart after a 50:50 ownership period with Daimler, the Zeekr push into Europe will expand the Geely footprint on the continent, with Polestar, Volvo, Lotus, Smart and the LEVC all sold there already.
At 1.9 meters wide and 1.7 meters tall, the 7X will be a strict five-seat SUV, which seems unusual when similar-sized rivals like the Kia Sorento and the Hyundai Sante Fe offer seven seats.
Its luggage area encompasses an enormous 616 liters (slightly smaller than the Sante Fe) and it retains large legroom in the rear, both of which are targeting adventures like “a camping staycation at the weekend.”
It will use the Geely SEA platform (which it shares with the Smart #5) and will be equipped with either 75kWh or 100kWh battery packs, to deliver a maximum range (with the larger battery) of just under 350 miles.
While it has yet to publish power or torque figures for the 7X, it claims a 3.8-second sprint to 62mph, and its 800V electrical architecture allows it to be recharged from 10 to 80% in only 15 minutes.
