Former Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen has been appointed the new chief performance adviser at Zeekr, which is Geely’s electric vehicle (EV) sub-brand. Announced by Zeekr on X (formerly Twitter), 44-year-old Raikkonen will be tasked to make the Zeekr 001 FR “faster and stronger.”
The Zeekr 001 FR (FR is an acronym for Future Roads) was announced in September this year and is geared towards performance while offering seating for up to five passengers. The headline figures are 1,265 PS (1,248 hp or 931 kW) that enables a 0-100 km/h time of 2.07 seconds in a rolling start scenario.
Based on the existing Zeekr 001 that first debuted in 2021, the FR features an enhanced 800-volt architecture and four silicon carbide electric motors to deliver the four-digit output. These e-motors will be powered by a CATL-sourced Qilin battery pack with an energy capacity of 100 kWh, which can be recharged from 10-80% in just 15 minutes.
The powertrain, which has an electric motor for each wheel, also allows the 001 FR to perform a tank turn. Chinese media outlets report that each electric motor at the front is rated at 211 PS (208 hp or 155 kW), while the ones in the rear each provide 421 PS (416 hp or 310 kW).
The all-wheel drive layout is bolstered by the Zeekr Vectoring Control system to ensure power gets to where its needed most, and when performing a tank turn, peak torque at the wheels can reach as high as 10,000 Nm.
Aside from the powertrain, the 001 FR also gets plenty of carbon-fibre bits, more aero, beefy AP Racing brakes, 22-inch forged alloy wheels, wide tyres and KW-sourced suspension. Inside, there’s acres of Alcantara to join the 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and 15.5-inch central infotainment touchscreen.
Production of the 001 FR has already begun, and each unit will reportedly sell for just under one million yuan (RM653,342). The performance EV will take on the Tesla Model S Plaid, which also retails for around the same price.
#ZEEKR is excited to welcome racing champion Kimi Räikkönen to the team as chief performance adviser to make #ZEEKR001FR faster and stronger. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/DaDsdyXLO7
— ZEEKR (@ZEEKRGlobal) October 23, 2023
The post Former F1 champ Kimi Raikkonen joins Zeekr as chief performance adviser to improve the 1,265 PS 001 FR appeared first on Paul Tan’s Automotive News.
