On October 23rd, Zeekr unveiled its latest innovation in the electric vehicle market, the Zeekr MIX, a mid-size electric MPV with a starting price of $27.99 to $29.99 thousand. This vehicle is designed on the SEA Ocean-M platform and features an 800V high-voltage platform, boasting a maximum range of 702km. Let’s dive into the details of this groundbreaking model.

The Hidden B-Pillar Design

The Zeekr MIX’s most notable feature is its hidden B-pillar design, which integrates the B-pillar into the front and rear doors. This innovative approach allows for a wider space when both front and rear doors are open. The right side of the vehicle features sliding doors, while the left rear door is a side-sliding door. With a low floor-to-ground clearance, it’s easier for passengers to get in and out. The dimensions of the new model are 4688/1995/1755mm in length, width, and height, with a wheelbase of 3008mm.

Spacious and Versatile Interior

The Zeekr MIX offers a spacious and versatile interior. The front and rear rows provide ample headroom and legroom, with the second row capable of reclining to躺下. The sliding doors on the right side and the low ground clearance enhance accessibility. The seats are equipped with 2-meter long sliders, allowing for a variety of seating configurations. The front seats can rotate 270 degrees, and the central armrest can slide forward and backward, offering a multitude of space experiences despite being a 5-seater layout.

Safety Without a Traditional B-Pillar

The absence of a traditional B-pillar might raise concerns about safety. However, Zeekr MIX has hidden the B-pillar within the doors, equipped with two 70mm diameter, one-piece hot-formed steel columns on each side. These columns are made from 2000 MPa hot-formed steel with a 3.5mm wall thickness, which is twice as thick as standard hot-formed steel, increasing overall strength by 33%. Crash tests have shown that the Zeekr MIX is safe, with the车内 space remaining intact and dummy passengers unharmed.

Unique Features of the Zeekr MIX

The Zeekr MIX boasts unique door designs, with the right side featuring opposite sliding doors, and the left rear also a sliding door, while the left front door opens conventionally but can open up to 90 degrees for easy access. The driver’s door is an electric door with an electric吸 feature.

The cabin layout is versatile, offering various modes such as a living room mode with front and rear seats facing each other, a viewing mode with the passenger seat facing outward, a free space mode for children to play, a bed mode, and a staggered mode for easy rear seat access from the front. These functions are preset in the car’s system and can be activated with a single touch on the screen.

Design and Technology Highlights

The Zeekr MIX pays great attention to design details, with high-quality interior materials, patterned soft package decorations on the door panels, ambient lighting, and even decorative buttons on the seats. The roof lining is made of suede material, and the panoramic skylight comes with a sunshade.

The console features an asymmetrical design with a 15.05-inch screen that can flip left and right. The car is equipped with an 8295 chip, AR-HUD, and a 10.9L thermal refrigerator that can refrigerate at -6℃ to 6℃ or heat up to 35-50℃.

In terms of intelligent driving, the Zeekr MIX comes standard with 1 lidar, 5 millimeter-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic radars, and 2 Nvidia Orin-X chips, offering a computing power of 508 TOPS. The system is equipped with Zeekr’s self-developed vast intelligent driving 2.0, which can handle complex road conditions and construction sites without lane markings.

Power and Range

The Zeekr MIX is powered by a high-performance silicon carbide rear-wheel drive motor, using an 800V high-voltage platform with a maximum power output of 310kW, achieving a 0-100km/h acceleration in just 6.8 seconds. There are two battery options: a 76kWh second-generation brick battery with a CLTC range of 550km, capable of charging from 10% to 80% in 10.5 minutes, and a 102kWh Kirin battery with a maximum range of 702km, offering an additional 500km of range in just 15 minutes of charging.

Conclusion

The Zeekr MIX stands out with its unique features and has no direct competitors. Its main competition comes from family-oriented vehicle models like the Li Auto L6. While the Zeekr MIX has irreplaceable advantages, the Li Auto L6’s configuration already meets consumer needs. With a starting price $30,000 higher than the Li Auto L6, it remains to be seen if consumers are willing to pay more for the experience.

As a pioneer in its category, if the Zeekr MIX succeeds, it may inspire模仿 from other models. If not, it will still be remembered as a representative vehicle in Chinese automotive history. Perhaps when true autonomous driving cars become a reality, more cars will pay homage to the Zeekr MIX’s design.