At this very moment, there’s really only two EV passenger-carrying vans I can think of, and they’re both quite cool looking, though their inspirations and aesthetics are coming from opposite ends of the spectrum. The first one is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, which I’ve written about before, and the other is the Zeekr 009, which was just officially released today. Where the ID.Buzz bases its look and character on a design from half a century ago and leverages all of the associated cultural and emotional impact of that original Microbus, the Zeekr 009 manages to have a really fresh, modern, sleek look that does not feel particularly derivative of anything I can think of. I like what I’m seeing.
Zeekr is part of Geely, which also owns Volvo and Polestar and Lotus, among other brands, which is also why you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that the design was done at least in part in Volvo’s hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden, and that the 009 shares Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) with the yet-to-be-released Polestar 5.
Specs-wise, it seems the 009 is likely to have options for a single 272 horsepower motor or a twin-motor setup with about 536 hp, good enough to get this big, luxurious box from 0 to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds, which feels like that should be plenty fast for a room that seats six.
The range is expected to be around 510 miles with a 140 kWh battery, which seems quite good. The battery is what’s known as a “cell-to-pack” design that eliminates modules of cells, instead placing the cells themselves directly into the pack, improving energy density by weight and eliminated some parts and complexity from the battery pack. This may come at the expense of serviceability, since it does effectively make the battery a monolithic unit.
The 009 also has adjustable air suspension and I suspect a lot of effort has been put into making this extremely comfortable to drive in, since it’s targeted at luxury and VIP clientele. You know, people who don’t like garbage.
Plus, it seems the van lowers itself to facilitate entry and exit, which gets machine-translated hilariously as “honorable ascending and descending ceremony.”
I think what’s most striking about the 009, though, is the exterior design, especially in the context of a minivan. I don’t think this is ever intended to come to America, with its absurd stigma against minivans, and that’s a shame, because I think something like this could do a lot to rehabilitate the minivan’s image.
This thing looks purposeful and sophisticated and modern and advanced, as imposing as any big-ass SUV but with a far better use of interior space, and two huge sliding doors. It’s unashamedly a minivan, yet it if you had to guess what you’d find ground into the carpets, you’d be more likely to guess bourbon and cocaine instead of grape juice and Cheerios.
That big, striking grille-looking element up front is called “The Fountain of Light” and incorporates over 150 LED strips. All of the lighting design is quite striking, with the taillights reminding me of the design language used at Geely-owned Lynk & Co.
The overall form is unashamedly upright and rectilinear, with an interesting kick-up by the C-pillar, and there’s some tidy and restrained use of brightwork. In a strange way, this feels to me what a clapdoor mid-’60s Lincoln Continental might have become, had its design language been translated into modern electric minivan.
The rear-end structure is interesting, too:
A first in automotive production history, the 009 utilizes the world’s largest one-piece die-casted rear aluminum body (1.4m long, 1.6m wide) made in the world’s largest 7,200 ton die-casting machine, which reduces deformations in event of impact and increases bending stiffness. A two-stage detachable buffer structure is added to reduce post-collision maintenance costs.
I think the Zeekr 009 looks like a really striking and cool minivan, and I think a more mainstream-priced version could do great even here in America, where it could possibly help rehab the minivan’s image into something cool and desirable.
China gets it; why can’t we?
Will those wheels be used to hypnotize passengers who stare at them from adjacent cars?
“China gets it; why can’t we?”
Yes, offshoring more production. Just what the USA needs.
Tesla’s gigapress was first on the scene. Guessing the chinese just made a “bigger” one.
Comrade Jintao I mean Jason, where has your critical thinking gone on vetting the source material? Exit stage right Comrade Jintao, I mean Jason.
It’s very good-looking. I do see influences in it, although I don’t know if I’d call it derivative. It looks like a cross between an Alphard and a Carnival to me.
I was thinking carnival too, at least the rear three-quarters.
And seeing it in black, it really looks like a spiritual successor to the Town Car. I’d love to get a ride to the airport in one of these things.
They should have gotten the Swedes to help with the English translation, too. Would have seemed almost right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnUv2fhFy5E
Sorry, its ugly looking. And I’d love to see what happens when it crashes into a wall and crumples up like aluminum foil.
Jack it up 5 cm, slap some cladding onto it and send it over. Name it something outdoorsy like High Trail or Destination. They’d sell dozens, I tell ya! Dozens!
“Zeeker Trailseeker”
For every bit attractive those wheels are, the front end is not.
Wait, 7.4 cubic meters is not only large but every square inch is full of luxury?
WHAT DOES THIS EVEN MEAN? WHY ARE THEY MIXING UNITS? WHY AM I YELLING?
WHY IS IT SHOUTING BACK AT ME????? MAKE IT STOP………………
I like it. Simple 2 box. But then my favorite car is a MK1 Fiesta. Also like the Mk1 Rabbit and Vanagon.
the Zeekr 009 manages to have a really fresh, modern, sleek look that does not feel particularly derivative of anything I can think of.
Looks like the offspring of a Ford Flex and a minivan to me. Flex coming in strong with the interior
Yeowch. It looks like a beaver, if beavers were assholes.
Can I just have a 500hp Grand Caravan??
I thought beavers were assholes?
The only MPV we need is the Hyundai Staria.
if only it came in RHD
I’m with you on ‘striking’ but not in a positive way.
The 009, it’s for when James Bond settles down and has two kids to cart around.
This thing looks primitive and ugly. As if the basic design was drawn up by a five-year-old that was told they could only have their candy after they finish the design of the 009. Why can’t car designer design nice- and friendly-looking cars any more? What is this silver not-a-radiator-grill supposed to be, a shield for ramming pedestrians and cyclists off the road? What’s with these sad-looking droopy light slits, can’t we have proper headlights?
Sheesh.
Wow, that is the most Chinese thing I have ever seen!
Looks like a Kia Carnival to me, just a different front
Exactly.
From the side, it looks like the Kia Grand Carnival, except the sliding doors are taken from the Kia Grand Sedona.
Overall, this looks like the Toyota Alphard, with its massive “grille”. Only uglier.
“Baddest”
The word you’re looking for is WORST.
Do they pay a royalty to Lego?
Playmobil, maybe.
*adjusts posh Lego monocle*
Is it Zeeker, or Zeekr ? The back of the van says Zeekr, but the article says Zeeker.
Is Geely in some sort of competition with General Foods or Procter and Gamble for who can have the most brands?
There is no reality where this thing is not heinously ugly.
That grill is jarring. Worse than a Lexus is what I’m saying. Would like to see it lit up at night, tho. I normally hate black wheels with lots of busy bright bits, but these actually look good-at least on the black one. I also want to make fun of the floating bright streak above the windows, but it rather works somehow
I really want to know the thinking behind that grill. The cheese-grater top and ventilation grill bottom are not even remotely tied together. I think either one would be out there, but together it’s nothing but WTF?
It’s a Ford Flex with a belt buckle for a nose.
Windshield is also off for a Flex.
Its a Flex from Wish.com?
That’s my thought too. Slap a blue oval on the front and people would be hard pressed to tell the difference.
“At this very moment, there’s really only two EV passenger-carrying vans I can think of”
Somewhere, Canoo is crying a lonely tear…