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New ZEEKR 001 leans toward FR
The revamped ZEEKR 001 has just been launched after the New Year. In addition to its FR-leaning appearance, various technologies have been upgraded, with major improvements in the motor, battery, intelligent driving, chassis, and more.
First of all, the new ZEEKR 001 is equipped across all models with a 800 V battery. The electric drive has also been upgraded, detailed as follows:
- The electric drive uses a SiC motor, with a front asynchronous 270 kW plus a rear permanent magnet 310 kW, a maximum torque of 810 Nm, and an official zero to hundred time of 3.3 seconds.
- The highest voltage is 818 V.
- There are two types of batteries: a 95 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery from Shenxing, and a 100 kWh ternary lithium battery from Qilin.
- A 9-valve thermal management system has been added to increase the vehicle’s thermal efficiency.
- For the four-wheel drive version with a 100 kWh battery, the maximum CLTC is 705 km. For the rear-wheel drive version with a 100 kWh battery, the maximum CLTC is 750 km.In essence, it offers stronger performance, faster charging, and longer driving range. We aim to turn weaknesses into strengths and enhance our overall competitiveness.
The new ZEEKR 001’s exterior updates are rather subtle; it keeps in line with previously exhibited at Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, essentially modelled after the 001 FR. Boasting the same front and rear bumpers as the FR, side exterior is now coated with triangular painted material, and the spoiler style has also evolved, lending a more sporty appeal overall.
The front laser radar needs no introduction, yet the 001 still incorporates the twin Mobileye EyeQ5H solution, according to ZEEKR, it aims to augment perceptual capacity, especially the detection of irregular obstacles.
The noteworthy change on the side is the consolidation of regular and rapid charging ports, making charging far more effortless. After all, trailing a long cable from the charging station can be rather tedious.
Moreover, the vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) discharging ability has been enhanced, reaching a peak power of 60 kW, making it as potent as fast-charging stations. The external discharging capabilities of V2L devices have also improved to 6 kW, catering to higher power needs when camping.
The new ZEEKR 001 is equipped with the eagerly anticipated electric towing hook and a dedicated towing mode, thereby elevating driving safety. The towing hook’s maximum towing capacity is 2,000 kg, sufficient for light caravans or small trailers.
Compared to its exterior, the new ZEEKR 001 has undergone more changes on the inside. Overall design aligns with that of the FR model, for instance, the curved LCD instrument panel, similarly styled physical steering wheel buttons, and button-style door opening.
The central control screen is identical to model 007, a 15.05 inch 2.5K OLED helianthus screen. However, unlike the one on model 007, the new 001 model offers angle adjustment, adding flexibility.
The seats have been updated to include an extendable electric leg rest and six massage modes. ZEEKR’s distinct addition of two vibrators in each front seat complements the ZEEKR cinema to create a 5D viewing experience, resulting in a truly unique experience.
Changes to the rear are minimal. The primary change lies in the adjustable rear seat backrest, controlled via the door panel, making it much more convenient than having to reach for the central armrest.
Quick Review:
For the ZEEKR 001, this upgrade is a milestone. The official launch will take place on February 27th.
Recently, there has been much discussion about the price of the new ZEEKR 001. Considering the specifications, the new ZEEKR 001 has been upgraded from 400V to 800V, equipped with a standard laser radar and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chipset, offering huge improvements in battery, intelligent driving and smart cabin, resulting in substantial costs.
Currently, the official starting price for the ZEEKR 001 is 269,000. If the price of the new ZEEKR 001 is less than or close to 269,000, it means ZEEKR would actually be making a loss. However, as ZEEKR 001 is ZEEKR’s main sales pillar, it needs to make some profits to support the brand’s development or at least to minimize losses in the face of price wars.
Hence, the starting price of the new ZEEKR 001 is likely to be 2 or 3 thousand more than 269,000. What’s your opinion on this?
BYD Dolphin Honor Edition Launched
On February 23rd, BYD Dolphin Honor Edition was officially launched. As the annual model of BYD Dolphin, this upgrade brought in numerous comfort features, boosting the product power of compact cars.
Regarding the interior, BYD Dolphin has added multiple comfort features. The steering wheel adjustment has been upgraded from 2-way to 4-way. Furthermore, the car now includes 50W Qi wireless fast charging for phones and 60W Type-C port fast charging. Rear-seat privacy glass has also been added; the most astounding feature is that BYD Dolphin now offers front seat ventilation, an option unthinkable in A0 class cars previously.
The Annual Edition’s changes in the space department isn’t big, the only major change is the redesign of the trunk space, introducing a new trunk partition for storing small items. Moreover, when the rear seat is folded, this creates a completely flat space.
Regarding the chassis, while it wasn’t uncalled for to have a torsion beam rear suspension in the A0-class Dolphin, the new Honor Edition has upgraded to a four-link independent suspension, significantly enhancing maneuverability and comfort.
Quick Review:The upgrades in this edition of the BYD Dolphin Honor are substantial, and with no increase in price, it’s a case of getting more for your money. The 420 km Freedom version is priced at CNY 112,800, the 420 km Fashion version at CNY 119,800, and the top-spec 401 km Knight version at CNY 129,800. In addition to these three versions, BYD Dolphin has introduced a new entry-level model, the 302 km Energy version, priced at CNY 99,800.
With the launch of its annual edition, the BYD Dolphin further consolidates its competitiveness and position in the A0 market. It also raises the bar for the configuration of A0 compact cars, turning the Dolphin into a high-quality small car.
NIO’s Full Range Upgrade for 24 Models
On February 22, 2024, NIO launched 24 models. In summary, configurations have been enhanced, starting prices remain the same. Details are:
- All vehicles come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chipset.
- The 2024 ES8 now includes 4 soft pillows as standard and the option for a “Moonlight Silver” color. Additionally, a table made specifically for the ES8 will be available in March.
- The 2024 ES7 now comes with a standard backseat massage and 4 soft pillows, utilizes a new direction lever, the HUD is upgraded to 16 inches, there’s a new “Moonlight Silver” color, a 22 inch-forged wheel rim, N-Box enhanced entertainment system are available.
- Four soft pillows now come as standard in the 2024 EC7.
- The 2024 ES6 and EC6 models, with the 75 kWh battery and 20-inch wheel rims, have improved their CLTC range to 500 km and 505 km, respectively.
- The 2024 ET5 now offers the option of the “N-Box Enhanced Entertainment System”.
Currently, besides the 2024 ET7, all other 2024 NIO models are now available for orders. Any potential NIO buyers intrigued by their offering more without increasing the price?
With the arrival of the NIO 2024 models, NOMI GPT is also coming. Officially referred to as “The Smartest NOMI Ever”. According to NIO, NOMI GPT will be the industry’s first fully edge-side deployed multimodal sensing large model.Take note that the keyword here is “industry’s first pure end-to-end deployment”, meaning that all interactions between user and NOMI GPT are done locally on the vehicle without any need for cloud upload. With this feature, NOMI can identify thousands of objects through the in-car camera without the need for internet connection, ensuring ultra-fast responses and even greater security since privacy data doesn’t leave the car.
NOMI GPT can go beyond conventional Q&A and information retrieval, bringing out the ‘feel’ behind languages from the text itself. For instance, if a user wants a particular ambiance light in the car, they can express their desired feeling rather than specifying the color. Although NOMI GPT hasn’t been released yet, looking at the pace of new car releases, it should already be just around the corner.
Quick Take:
NIO announced that its 2024 models kick off on pre-orders, with each being upgraded to the 8295 chip. However, NIO’s older models won’t be offered upgrade services from the 8155 chip to 8295. In response to the question of whether the older models could be upgraded to the 8295 chip, NIO’s Vice President of Intelligent Hardware, Bai Jian, said:
- 8155 paired with 4 Orin chips work together via the in-car heterogeneous computing cluster within NIO’s system architecture, thus cabin experiences aren’t restricted by the 8155 chip’s capabilities.
- Even leading hardware requires software design and development. Currently, NIO vehicles using 8155 chips are still smoother than some models equipped with 8295 chips.
- The Banyan Banyan system is compatible with both 8155 and 8295, with all year models of second-generation vehicles synchronously updating and iterating, without any differences in planned features.
JIYUE Rolls Out the First Pure Vision Smart Driving OCC in China
February 23, JIYUE officially launched the full rollout of OTA V1.3.1. The highlight of the update is the introduction of OCC utilizing network push to users, enabling the recognition of asymmetric obstacles such as fences and water horses.
In addition, key upgrades within the JIYUE OTA V1.3.1 include:
- Turn signal automatic assistance image function added.
- Battery preheating starts when navigating to a charging station.
- Bilibili, Little Universe, and other apps added to the car system.
- Added a motor waste heat recovery feature, potentially increasing CLTC cruising range by about 6%.
Meanwhile, small functional updates such as in-car voice optimization, external voice optimization, spare gear shift optimization, and additional trip power consumption explanations were also included.
Of course, we’ll be timely updating the JIYUE 01 in our garage, and we will share pertinent details about its use. Stay tuned!
Quick Take:
Apart from the OTA rollout, on the evening of February 23, JIYUE also live-streamed the sharing of the OCC 1.3.1 Smart Driving experience. During the live stream, JIYUE CEO Xia Yiping revealed that, “JIYUE’s smart driving will soon be operable nationwide, and JIYUE has already carried out light-mapping or unmapped smart driving ground tests in several places across the country.”
The JIYUE ‘Wisdom Driving Protection’ service will officially launch on 29th February, at which point customers will be able to purchase it in stores. It’s a coverage plan for any liability costs incurred within their advanced wisdom driving range. In addition, Xia Yiping predicts that auto companies that have not achieved ‘nationwide coverage’ by 2024 will likely be phased out. Interestingly, JIYUE also plans to host an AI Day in March, sharing updates and thoughts on its SIMO and intelligent driving. It appears that all companies are moving towards ‘nationwide coverage’ for their intelligent driving technologies.
New IM L7 Joins the Sub-300k Club
The IM released its new L7 model on 24th February. Firstly, the body length has largely increased by 10 mm, while the width, height, and wheelbase remain unchanged. The dimensions are 5,108 mm/1,960 mm/1,485 mm, with a wheelbase of 3,100 mm.
In terms of basic performance, the IM L7 is equipped with an intelligent four-wheel steering system, EVD vector four-wheel drive technology, eTAC edge torque control technology, etc. In addition, an ‘ICS Cloud-based Braking Function’ will be released this spring.
A majority of the upgrades in the new IM L7 are focused on the rear seats, which is quite impressive. The upgrade introduces a 520 mm extended seat cushion, a 10-degree adjustable backrest angle, a 50 mm leg support available in both front and rear seats, and seat ventilation and heating. This seating configuration will enhance the overall comfort of the ride.
The new IM L7 comes standard with dual-laser radars and NVIDIA Orin X smart driving chips. A first-edition commuting mode will be beta tested nationwide in Q1; an advanced commuting mode will cover 100 cities nationwide within the year. The progress of the IM L7’s smart driving OTA update maintains congruence with the LS6.
Quick Comment:
The new IM L7 is also priced within the 300k range, with prices between 299,900 and 419,900 yuan. Currently, purchasing the entry-level Max ultra-long range version comes with a bonus worth 54,300 yuan.The luxury configuration, featuring Nappa seats, 20-inch wheels, electric doors, and more; in addition, packages worth 55,800 RMB are included in the rest of the configurations; additionally, there is also literal gold, premium driving privileges and so forth. What does everyone think about this, between this car and the soon-to-be-released brand-new ZEEKR 001, which one would you choose?
This article is a translation by AI of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.