Zeekr 7GT debuts in Europe, brings record-breaking charging speeds

The market for station wagons is still very much alive in Europe, even if the rest of the world prefers SUVs. A new challenger has entered this space, and it comes from the Chinese giant Geely. The car is the Zeekr 7GT - an electric wagon that wants to steal buyers away from luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It offers plenty of luxury, but the real story here is how fast it gets power back into its battery.

Many EVs on the road today are built on a 400V system. The Zeekr 7GT uses a more advanced 800V platform, allowing the car to accept power at a massive speed - the peak charging rate is 480 kW. This is currently the fastest charging available for any electric vehicle in Europe. If you choose the model with the smaller 75kWh battery, you can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 13 minutes.

Even the larger 100 kWh battery takes only 16 minutes to reach the same level. Zeekr claims that plugging in for just 10 minutes will give you 211 miles of driving range. This applies to both battery sizes. This kind of speed helps solve one of the biggest problems people have with electric cars: the wait at the charging station.

The range itself is good, but it is not the highest in the industry. The single-motor model can drive up to 407 miles on the WLTP cycle. The all-wheel-drive version gets 347 miles, and the base battery gets 322 miles. However, the fast charging makes these numbers less of a worry.

Performance is another area where the Zeekr 7GT shines. The top-tier version uses two motors to drive all four wheels. This setup delivers 636 horsepower, and it can launch the car from a dead stop to 62 mph in only 3.3 seconds. Even the slower single-motor version is quick, doing the same sprint in 5.3 seconds. The top speed for all models is capped at 130 mph.

Zeekr wants to compete with high-end luxury cars, and the interior reflects that. One of the most interesting features is the automatic doors. You can find this on the top "Privilege" trim. The doors open and close automatically; you do not have to leave the driver's seat to open the door for passengers. The car also features a huge 35-inch head-up display that projects information onto the windshield. Other luxury touches include Nappa leather seats, a glass roof, and a high-quality sound system. The top model also gets air suspension.

The design of the 7GT does not look typical for a car from China - that's because it was designed by the team in Sweden. It shares a look with its cousin, the 7X crossover. The style is clean, elegant, and understated. It fits right in on European roads. It avoids the busy, over-styled look that some other manufacturers use. This helps it appeal to buyers who want something that looks premium but not too flashy.

Zeekr has priced the 7GT aggressively. The base model is called the Business Edition RWD. It starts at $53,880. This price includes a discount from the maker of $2,000. If you want more range, the Long Range Launch Edition RWD comes in at $59,730. This includes a $2,800. The top-of-the-line Privilege AWD model costs $67,350, with a $2,900 discount included. Buyers should know that there is also a delivery fee of $1,200 for all models, and orders are open now - the first deliveries will start in July.

Here's the official Zeekr 7GT introduction video with a detailed tour of this handsome wagon:

Source