Zeekr has announced its product update plan for the second half of this year, and this will involve models including the Zeekr X, 7X, 001 and 007, Car News China has reported.
The brand’s SEA-based model, the X is due to be updated between September and the fourth quarter of this year, and the update will bring a variant featuring parent Geely’s new Energee battery, as well as minor updates to its interior, according to the report.
These updates are expected to be only for left hand drive models from now, according to Zeekr product communications when contacted.
Locally, the Zeekr X was launched in Malaysia in December last year, where the model arrived in two variants – the Premium RWD at RM155,800, and the Flagship AWD at RM172,800. The single-motor RWD packs a 66 kWh NMC battery offering up to 440 km of range, while the dual-motor AWD can do up to 420 km; both figures are based on the WLTP testing standard.
Joining the Zeekr X in receiving updates for left hand drive markets this year is the Zeekr 7X, the brand’s SUV model that competes with the likes of the Tesla Model Y and the BYD Sealion 7.
Like the case with the X, the Zeekr 7X SUV will be updated for left hand drive markets like China in the fourth quarter this year to get a 900-volt electrical system, along with minor exterior and interior revisions; the other model in the Zeekr range to get a 900-volt electrical architecture is the 9X flagship SUV which made its debut at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show.
In Malaysia, the 7X was previewed in May this year, with introductory pricing for three variants; the RWD Standard at RM182,000, the RWD Long Range at RM195,000, rounded up by the AWD Performance at RM230,000.
This can be expected to improve upon the battery capacity and charging capabilities of the current 7X, which can attain a 10-80% recharge in 10.5 minutes when equipped with a 75 kWh LFP battery, which offers 480 km of range (WLTP). Meanwhile, the 100 kWh NMC battery (600 km range WLTP) takes 15 minutes for a 10-80% recharge.
Other Zeekr models that will also be updated in the fourth quarter this year include the 007 and 001. The 007 will receive minor revisions to its exterior and interior, while its powertrain and driving assistance features will continue unchanged. Meanwhile, the 001 will receive the Thor-U chip, as well as carmaker’s 900-volt electrical architecture.
AD: Drive the ZEEKR model of your dreams. Submit your details and Zeekr Carro (Bangsar, Mutiara Damansara, Penang, Seremban outlets) will get in touch with you.
The upcoming NVIDIA Thor-U chip is a significant upgrade for the Zeekr 7X’s assisted driving system, representing a leap forward from the current dual NVIDIA Orin X setup. Here’s a breakdown of why it’s considered so good:
1. Massive Performance Increase:
* Computing Power: The Thor-U chip, at 500 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second), is a single-chip solution that is designed to be more powerful and efficient than the previous dual-Orin X system, which has a combined power of 508 TOPS.
* Next-Generation Architecture: Thor is built on a newer architecture (Blackwell GPU and Neoverse V3AE CPU) compared to the Orin’s Ampere and Cortex-A78AE. This means it can handle more complex and demanding AI tasks, particularly in transformer workloads, with greater efficiency.
2. Consolidation and Efficiency:
* Centralized Architecture: Thor is designed for a centralized electronic/electrical (E/E) architecture. This means it can consolidate multiple domain controllers into a single chip, handling not just assisted driving but also in-car infotainment and other functions. This reduces complexity, wiring harness, and costs.
* Cost and Power Savings: A single Thor-U chip is said to be more cost-effective than the dual Orin-X chips it replaces, while also consuming about 30% less power. This is a crucial advantage for electric vehicles.
3. Enhanced Capabilities:
* Advanced ADAS: The Thor chip is expected to enable more advanced and seamless assisted driving features, potentially moving towards more sophisticated “map-free” autonomous navigation and full parking automation. The Zeekr 9X, for instance, is slated to use dual Thor chips for this kind of technology.
* Multi-Domain Computing: Thor can run multiple operating systems (like Linux, QNX, and Android) concurrently on a single chip, allowing for the integration of safety-critical assisted driving functions with the infotainment system without interruption.
Very Good summery Paul. Can you be more specific about Thor initially available for left had drive only? Any info or opinion on when RHD 7x will be upgraded?