Malaysia-bound Zeekr 009 gets an upgrade in China

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s electric vehicle is ready to welcome another Chinese EV brand this year, called Zeekr. The automaker has confirmed its local debut and has appointed Sentinel Automotive as its local partner, as per the reports. Among the two Zeekr EVs that will be launched first in Malaysia is the 009. It is a luxury MPV based on Geely’s SEA1 platform that has recently received an upgrade in China.

Speaking of dimensions first, the new Zeekr 009 is 8 mm longer at 5,217 mm and 36 mm shorter at 1,812 mm as the shark fin antenna has been moved to the rear spoiler. The width and wheelbase remain unchanged at 2,024 mm and 3,205 mm, respectively.

In terms of design, the upgraded MPV looks almost identical to its predecessors. However, the automaker claims that a total of 1,366 components have been changed. Some of the significant cosmetic enhancements include - an illuminated front grille with an additional chrome trim and a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor.

Getting inside, here the EV maker introduced a new seven-seater version along with the existing six-seater layout. The former has a 2+2+3 configuration with a center aisle while the 6-seater offers more comfortable seating without an aisle. 

The central infotainment system of the electric MPV now features a larger 15.05-inch OLED screen with enhanced 2.5K resolution. The ceiling-mounted display on the rear has also been upgraded to 17-inch OLED with a higher 3K resolution. The new Zeekr 009 also boasts an upgraded 35.95 AR head-up display offering enhanced AI features. However, the 10.25-inch instrument cluster unit remains the same as earlier.

In addition to the soft-touch and premium trims, the EV's ‘Sofaro’ seats are wrapped in luxurious Nappa leather and feature integrated headrest speakers. These seats provide enhanced comfort with ventilation, massage, and heating functions. 

Other key features include - matrix LED headlights with adaptive high beam, power-sliding doors, a powered tailgate, a 50W wireless charging pad, three-zone climate control, dual sunroofs, a one-pedal driving mode, and a new refrigerator.

Coming to the drivetrain setup, the Zeekr 009 is now offered with two options, including a new single-motor FWD and the existing dual-motor AWD.

The new FWD version is powered by a single electric motor tuned to deliver a maximum power of 421 PS and a peak torque of 440 Nm, It enables the EV to hit the century sprint in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 230 kmph.

The continuing dual-motor AWD version, on the other hand, also gets a power upgrade. It now generates 789 PS and 810 Nm of torque, allowing the MPV to run from zero to 100 kmph in 3.9 seconds.

The Chinese-spec FWD and AWD trims come with a 108-kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery, offering a range of up to 740 km and 702 km, respectively. Also, a larger 140-kWh battery is available as an option, providing a range of up to 900 km.

As for safety, the MPV features several advanced driver assistance systems, including full-speed active cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, lane change assist, automatic parking assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The new Zeekr 009 price in China ranges from CNY 439,000 (RM 282,028) to CNY 469,000 (RM 301,301).

Also read: Geely-owned Zeekr unveils new electric SUV, the Zeekr 7X