Three variants of Model Y rival coming to shake up sector. Will Elon be worried?

THREE variants of a car expected to carry highest volume expectation for the Zeekr brand here have been priced.

The 7X is a five-seat electric sports utility wagon that is the newest export product from the luxury marque, built by Geely of China, with Tesla’s Model Y cited as a priority target.

The car is to avail in a broadly similar price span to the Tesla, with an entry rear-wheel drive at $69,990, a Long Range for $79,990 and a flagship Performance all-wheel-drive at $94,990, with deliveries to start in November.

The rear wheel and long-range models have a single 310kW/440Nm motor in the rear axle, with estimated range figures of 480km - from a 75kWh battery - and 615km (from the same 100kWh battery as the Performance) respectively.

Ranges estimates are calculated to the NZ-trusted WLTP calculator.

The Performance model makes 475kW/710Nm; no range is shared but it is said to be the fastest to 100kmh from a standing start, with Geely’s clock showing the sprint takes 3.8 seconds.

Tesla’s Model Y Performance gets 343kW, with torque not divulged, and will cost $100,900. Tesla quotes a 3.5-second 0-100kmh sprint and top speed of 250kmh. The dual motor Y Long Range that presently heads the NZ family as a $77,900 offer makes an estimated 290kW and 510Nm torque. There’s also a single motor entry, with 220kW/420Nm, for $67,900.

Points of interest about the 7X are that it is designed in Gothenburg, Sweden, is based on Geely’s latest electric car platform called SEA and the base unit’s battery is the so-called ‘Golden’ type. The latter is so named because it can charge from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 13 minutes on a 360 kW fast charger, with a massive peak of 450 kW. That’s much faster than the most powerful DC technology publicly available here.

The 7X was announced last month, at the launch of distributor network NordEast, which is part of the Giltrap Group.

NordEast general manager Dane Fisher’s confidence is fed by the model being an entry into the mid-sized premium SUV segment, which is now the largest premium segment in the country - if also the one of the most congested.

However Fisher says the segment has just surpassed 50% full electric penetration. “So there's never been a better time to launch a car like the 7X.”

The Zeekr lineup for NZ also comprises the X compact-SUV ($59,900-$69,900) and 009 people-mover ($149,900-$154,900). The X and 009 are available now; 7X orders placed before the end of November come with a three-year service plan whose cost is covered by the brand.

According to Fisher at the NordEast event: “Zeekr is in a premium space. I think it's becoming relatively affordable and I think that's really exciting for consumers in New Zealand … we think the 7X is going to be an amazing success.

“We want to disrupt and this brand can really do some special stuff.”