Zeekr C1Xe Teased As Marque’s Upcoming Tesla Model Y Fighter

Zeekr has released several teaser images of its upcoming Tesla Model Y rival, codenamed the C1Xe.

Zeekr has released several teaser images of its new electric SUV, which is set to take on the Tesla Model Y. Codenamed CX1e, this new EV SUV features a sleek design, although some of its details are covered with the orange camo wrap.

Revealed by Zeekr’s vice president Lim Jinwei via China’s Weibo social media page, the camo-wrapped CX1e EV SUV adopts some similar design cues we’ve seen on other Zeekr EV models. This includes the thin ‘Stargate’ light bar at the front, which we assume will just be the DRLs instead of the actual headlight unit.

The slim LED unit at the front is paired with a full-width LED taillight bar, which combines with its clean tailgate design to give a sleek look to this EV SUV. Also present here are some EV-specific designs, such as flushed door handles and a sleek roofline, not to mention the presence of a LiDAR unit on top of its roof, hinting at some autonomous driving capabilities.

Dimension-wise, the upcoming Zeekr CX1e is said to measure 4.7 metres in length, which puts it neck-to-neck against the Model Y, which spans at 4,751 MM long.

While official details are scarce, the CX1e will likely underpin the same PMA2+ platform used on the Zeekr 007 EV saloon, which is actually derived from Geely’s tried-and-tested SEA platform used on many of its electric vehicles. Like the 007, the PMA2+ platform underpinned by the CX1e will feature an 800-volt battery architecture that allows DCFC at up to 500 kW.

Besides the ultra-fast charging speeds, we can also expect the CX1e to be offered with the same battery specs as the 007. For the baseline model, the 007 gets an LFP unit rated at 75-kWh, while the up-spec model gets a larger 100-kWh NMC battery pack that supplies a CLTC range of up to 688 KM.

Zeekr 007 EV saloon

On the powertrain front, the CX1e will arrive in both single-motor RWD and dual-motor (AWD) configurations, just like the 007. On said EV saloon, the baseline RWD model is rated at 416 HP (310 kW) and 440 NM, which is good to propel the 007 from nought to 100 KM/H in 5.6 seconds. Meanwhile, the 007 AWD variant gets a healthier total system output of 640 HP (475 kW) and 710 NM, allowing a faster century sprint time of 3.8 seconds.

With the automaker already publishing its teaser images, the all-new Zeekr CX1e EV SUV is slated to make its debut any time soon, and it will be the second new EV model launched by the automaker, following the debut of the Mix EV MPV earlier this year. These two new EVs are part of Zeekr’s expansion plan, which will see the Geely-owned EV marque launch at least seven new EV models by the end of 2026.