More power than an F1 car for under $200K: Driving the wickedly fast – and occasionally crazy – Zeekr 001 FR
Big power usually means big engines, often with a turbo or two thrown in for good measure.
But the Zeekr 001 FR is different – very different.
The unassuming five-door wagonette uses four electric motors to create a monstrous amount of power.
All up there’s 930kW to play with, which is double what some very respectable supercars make.
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By way of reference, the upcoming Ferrari 12Cilindri makes 610kW. In isolation it’s an amazing feat, but against the might of four electric motors it’s comfortably outdone.
Suffice to say, the 001 FR is the most powerful car I’ve ever driven.
It could be the most powerful car many F1 drivers have driven, too, because that 930kW – or 1265 horsepower – comfortably outdoes a modern Formula One car.
2024 Zeekr 001 FR price and equipment
As with so many things out of China, the Zeekr 001 FR is more affordable than you may expect given its ferocious outputs.
It sells for 769,000 RMB, which is something like $170,000 in our money.
If it were to come to Australia – there are currently no plans – it would pick up GST and our ludicrous luxury car tax, so the price would likely be closer to $250,000.
That’s a lot for a brand that’s largely unknown.
But as Honda (with the NSX) and Nissan (with the GT-R) proved, if you offer something special that delivers supercar excitement for less than big brand rivals then you can create a cult following.
Maybe that’s what Zeekr is going for with the 001 FR (the FR stands for future roads and is the high-performance sub-brand that’s set to upgrade other Zeekrs moving forward).
As with regular 001s, the cabin is a practical size and there are high quality materials and finishes throughout.
The FR gets a liberal application of red highlights – including brake calipers – and seats that hug more convincingly. There’s also a race-style wing on the rear for added downforce and high-speed stability.
There are also 22-inch alloys with Pirelli P Zero tyres, red AP Racing calipers and cross drilled brakes to pull up all the fun.
Zeekr 001 FR: What we think
Our time with the Zeekr 001 FR was brief. A single four-kilometre lap of the Ningbo International Circuit (which is owned by Zeekr and sister brand Lynk & Co).
Rolling out of the pits gives the same easy thrust so many EVs do so well.
But feeding power on in the first left-hander is a swift reminder that this car is different.
With the accelerator mashed to the firewall I’m greeted with flashing lights and not a whole lot of power as the electronics do their job controlling wheelspin.
The same happens in the second corner before I convince my minder to unleash those electronic controls.
It’s instantly more engaging and feeding power on out of a left sweeper has the tail sliding as it struggles to contain the grunt (as well as 930kW there’s 1280Nm of torque, a huge number).
Whereas many all-wheel drive cars will lean on their nose when powering out of corners, this one has a clear rear bias.
That’s indicative of engineering nous and could also be partly the work of former F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen, who helped with honing the dynamics.
It helps that the rear motors are making more power – up to 620kW – whereas the front motors make up to 310kW (more than the last Holden Commodore V8, which made 304kW).
In a straight line there’s an intoxicating surge – nearly silent – as the 001 FR rapidly builds pace.
It’s fast, and super easy to get higher numbers flashing up on the digital speedo.
But it’s not as crazy as some may expect from 930kW, in part because the all-wheel drive traction harnesses the energy so well.
Whereas a rear-drive supercar can be a wild thing when accelerating hard, the 001 FR is tame in comparison.
There’s also a heap of weight – about 2.3 tonnes – which quells the lunacy ever so slightly.
That said, there’s never a shortage of pace.
And the tail is ever keen to hang out, especially out of slower bends.
Unleash all 930kW and 1280Nm and the FR fires up with a smile-inducing slide.
It pulls up well, too, although our drive wasn’t long enough to determine how it would deal with punishment lap after lap. There’s a lot going on and there would be a lot of heat to get rid of.
After a couple of minutes the fun is over and I roll the 001 FR back into the pits.
It’s enough to learn there’s depth to this car. Whereas Teslas tend to be one-trick ponies with their straight line surge, the 001 FR is the sort of car that rises to the challenge of a track, while still delivering on everyday practicality.
It’s enough to learn Zeekr knows plenty about making cars fast and fun.
All of which bodes well for the future FR models the brand says it’s working on.
2024 Zeekr 001 FR: Verdict
For a brand that only built its first car in 2021 the Zeekr 001 FR is a remarkable achievement.
It’s designed to show the world that the brand is serious about this EV gig.
And it’s in many ways a success.
I’d want to spend more time in it to learn if the great initial first impressions are replicated over more laps and more time on the road.
But as a statement it’s something pretty cool – and fun.
Score: 4/5
2024 Zeekr FR specifications
Price: 769,000 RMB (about $250,000 once Australian taxes are added)
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, wagon, AWD
Range: 620km (using the Chinese WLTC standard; think closer to 500km)
Battery capacity: 100kWh
Battery warranty: NA
Energy consumption: NA
Motors: 2 front and 2 rear 910kW/1280NM
AC charging: 22kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 10-80% in 15 minutes, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 2.1 seconds
