Latest iteration of iconic electric shooting brake also gets rear Queen seat and up to 810km of range.

Zeekr has officially unveiled the updated 001 electric shooting brake with the update bringing a 900-volt platform and record 12C fast charging from its next generation Golden Brick battery.

Other changes include a “Starry Sky Concert Hall” cabin concept with significantly enhanced infotainment systems and luxury appointments, including a rear passenger Queen seat.

Exterior styling remains largely unchanged from the original model that debuted in 2021 with most changes focused on the drive and powertrains which are now also more powerful than before.

Pre-sales began on 23 September with early deposit holders eligible for substantial purchase discounts, with an official launch expected on 11 October.

Styling wise, the 001 retains the same design it had since the previous update, which included modified front and rear bumper details and little else, but it does now gain turquoise lights to indicate the ADAS system is being used.

That means it keeps the Lynk & Co-based styling it received when it transitioned from the Lynk & Co ZERO concept into the Zeekr 001 production car, including the frog-like twin-stripe daytime running lights at the front, and segmented rear daytime running lights.

It measures 4,977mm long, 1,999mm wide, and 1,545mm tall, and features a 3,005mm wheelbase, and features a somewhat unique shooting-brake-cum-estate profile with a hatchback rear.

It comes with a choice of 19-, 21-, or 22-inch alloys, and the option to have a black roof and different coloured brake calipers.

In line with Zeekr’s move upmarket to put space between itself and sister brand Lynk & Co, the 001 gets a cabin upgrade which includes more premium materials and smart technology.

This includes Nappa leather and suede throughout, an update to the Zeekr OS 7 operating system which now operates on a larger 16-inch 3.5k central screen that can now pivot 30-degrees, a 39.3-inch augmented reality head-up display, and 29 speakers throughout the cabin.

There’s also heating, ventilation, and 20-point massage on the front seats, and 12-point massage on the rear seats, as well as a Queen seat option on the rear passenger seat which features a 125-degree backrest recline, extending legrest, and a footrest on the back of the front seat.

An 8-inch rear screen is introduced on the back of the centre console, and there’s also a special digitally controlled sunroof which features embedded LEDs that enable the user to select the constellation of their choosing to be illuminated on the roof.

The most comprehensive upgrades are reserved for the drive and powertrains, with the 001 now gaining a 900-volt platform and even more power, with the RWD version getting a boost from 310kW to 370kW, and the dual motor version now pushing power to 680kW with the more powerful motor on the rear and the 310kW motor moved to the front, unlocking a 2.83-second 0-100kph sprint and 280kph top speed.

With the standard 001 moving up to 680kW of power, or 911hp, the flagship 001FR, which currently produces 910kW of power from four motors, looks set to be pushed even further, with rumours suggesting Zeekr is keen on fighting for the crown currently being battled over by the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and Yangwang U9 of China’s fastest car.

Single motor versions get a battery upgrade to a 103kWh CATL Qilin battery with 6C charging offering a 10-80% charge in just 10 minutes, as well as a CLTC range of 810km.

The dual-motor version gets a choice of the same battery, or the next-generation of Golden Brick battery which is a 95kWh Zeekr-developed unit that charges at a record 12C, achieving 10-80% charge in just seven minutes. This battery gets 710km of CLTC range vs the CATL battery’s 762km.

This would make the 001 the fastest charging car in the world, with the Golden Brick battery surpassing BYD’s 10C charging battery and beating CATL’s 12C battery to the market.

In addition, the Zeekr 001 gets continuous damping control (CCD) and dual-chamber closed air suspension, which provides a maximum 206mm of ground clearance thanks to 85mm height adjustment, raising 30mm in seven seconds.

The 001’s ADAS system also gets a boost to Geely’s H7 system, which includes a LiDAR unit among 31 different sensors and an NVIDIA Thor-U chip with 700TOPS of processing power, for both urban and highway assisted driving.

Pre-sales commenced on 23 September with customers able to secure their order with a RMB2000 (£210 / $280) / €240) deposit, getting a RMB7000 (£731 / $983 / €842) discount from the final purchase price in the process.

The revised model is expected to retail from around RMB 270,000 (£28,200 / $37,900 / €32,500) when it officially goes on sale on 11 October, rising slightly from the current model’s entry price of RBM 259,000.