From China with love: New Zeekr 007 is the car designed and developed to beat the Tesla Model 3

November 13, 2023November 13, 2023 John Mahoney 5063 Views model 3, Tesla, Zeekr

China’s Geely has shown off its Tesla Model 3 fighter for the first time and it comes jam-packed full of the giant car-maker’s latest tech.

The very first pictures of the Zeekr 007 sedan that’s been created to steal sales from both the Model 3 and bigger Tesla Model S have surfaced ahead of its official launch at the Guangzhou Auto Show on November 17.

Posting pics on its X account, the Geely-owned premium brand said Chinese buyers could pre-order the new Zeekr 007 later this week ahead of first deliveries beginning either late this year or early 2024.

Set to join the Zeekr 001 mid-size wagon, the Zeekr 009 full-size minivan and the small Zeekr X SUV in its Chinese line-up, the new model will be based on the same Geely developed SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform that the other three share.

Featuring smooth pebble-like styling, handle-less doors and simple surfaces, the Zeekr 007 looks like it has been developed to be ultra-slippery to maximise range.

Measuring up at 4865mm long, 1900mm wide and standing 1450mm tall, the Zeekr 007 is actually considerably bigger than the Tesla Model 3 (+145mm longer, +50mm wider and +9mm taller), with some suggesting the Chinese firm hopes a wide range of powertrains will see it steal sales from the bigger Model S too.

It makes sense as packing a generous 2928mm wheelbase should see the mid-size sedan offer loads of space within its light and airy cabin.

Speaking of which, that full-length panoramic sunroof is said to offer some pioneering tech itself as it has been developed using next-gen nano-silvered glass.

The advanced double-glazing reportedly offers heat insulation well beyond today’s tech and can also swap from transparent to dark glass to provide privacy at a moment’s notice.

Beneath the skin, there’s double wishbone suspension that has been honed to ensure the Zeekr sedan will be among the class-best for its driving capability.

Full details will be released following its unveil but we know entry versions of the Zeekr 007 will come with a single motor that will produce 150kW and 350Nm of torque.

Despite those modest outputs, the Zeekr 007 is said to be capable of a brisk 0-100km/h sprint in 6.5 seconds.

There’s no word on battery size or range, but thanks to an 800-volt electrical architecture battery charging should be among the very fastest with a full charge tipped to take less than 30 minutes.

All will be revealed, as well as pics of the mid-size sedan’s cabin following its unveiling at the Guangzhou Auto Show.

Both the Zeekr X SUV and all-new Zeekr 007 are hotly tipped to spearhead the brand’s arrival in Australia that could be as soon as early 2025 although Geely has yet to officially confirm Zeekr’s launch in our market. Instead, it has announced that its sister brand Lynk & Co will be introduced in 2025 but has not yet detailed which models is coming when.