Starting at 279,900 yuan, the ZEEKR MIX is officially launched tonight.
There are no high or low configurations; MIX offers only two versions, differing only in battery capacity and charging capability, with all other features as standard across the board.
The ZEEKR MIX Intelligent Driving Version has a battery capacity of 76 kWh, a CLTC range of 550 km, and a price of 279,900 yuan.
The ZEEKR MIX Long-Range Intelligent Driving Version has a battery capacity of 102 kWh, a CLTC range of 702 km, and a price of 299,900 yuan.
Currently, ZEEKR MIX is open for reservations, and deliveries could start as early as tomorrow.
Additionally, ZEEKR offers several reservation benefits: from today until November 30, customers placing an order can enjoy benefits worth over 40,000 yuan. Existing ZEEKR users who make a new purchase or upgrade within this year will also enjoy a 10,000 yuan final payment discount.
ZEEKR MIX is positioned as a mid-size MPV, with body dimensions of 4,688 mm (length), 1,995 mm (width), and 1,775 mm (height), and a wheelbase of 3,008 mm. The four-wheel-at-corners layout achieves a 6.3 m² cabin space.
In terms of body and interior layout, ZEEKR MIX features more creative designs, the most representative being the hidden B-pillar design and the 270° rotatable front seats. The absence of a B-pillar significantly facilitates entry and exit, with a maximum opening width of 1.48 meters. Rotating the front seats to the rear transforms the interior into a living-room-like space.
Whether it’s the four-wheel-at-corners setup, the hidden B-pillar, or the rear-rotatable front seats, the ZEEKR MIX stands out as an interesting vehicle in the “boring” electric era, attracting considerable attention.
Furthermore, the latest intelligent solutions from ZEEKR are integrated into the MIX, such as the smart cabin with an 8295 chip and a 15.05-inch OLED central control screen, along with the Hohmann Intelligent Driving 2.0 powered by dual NVIDIA Orin chips with 508 TOPS computing power, ensuring the MPV is equally intelligent.
During tonight’s launch event, ZEEKR also announced the progress of the Hohmann Intelligent Driving 2.0, with cross-floor valet parking to begin phased rollout within three months, fully available next year. NZP without maps in cities will start phased rollout by the end of October. Additionally, the city NZP’s door-to-door parking function will undergo phased rollout over the next three months, fully available nationwide by the second quarter of next year.
ZEEKR MIX offers only two versions, differing solely in their battery configurations. The distinctive outward-swinging electric doors and rotating seats are standard features that best represent the personality of MIX. At tonight’s launch, Andy Conghui said the development cost of ZEEKR MIX is 2.8 times that of a regular mid-to-large SUV, showcasing that the primary investment in creating an intriguing vehicle is cost.
Another statement from Andy Conghui: “ZEEKR’s innovation is not to outdo others, but to redefine the mobility of tomorrow,” aptly highlights ZEEKR’s goal to captivate hearts with innovative products in a fiercely competitive automotive market.
The Origin of ZEEKR MIX’s Intrigue: SEA-M Architecture
The automotive industry has long acknowledged that the absence of an engine allows for more flexible spatial arrangements in electric vehicles. But what if we could “steal” some more space?
Following a 7 billion RMB investment, the SEA-M architecture emerged, with the first model being the ZEEKR MIX.
ZEEKR MIX measures 4,688 mm in length, 1,995 mm in width, and 1,755 mm in height, classifying it as a mid-sized MPV. Yet, despite its compact form, it boasts a 3,008 mm wheelbase with a 64% wheel-to-length ratio.
However, a long wheelbase does not directly correlate with ample space; it depends on interior spatial efficiency data. The ZEEKR MIX boasts a maximum interior longitudinal length of 3,826 mm, of which the max seating longitudinal length reaches 2,800 mm, an interior width of 1,650 mm, and a cabin area of 6.3 m².
If you don’t comprehend these figures, consider that Wontao, an editor over 180 cm tall, can sit in the rear of the ZEEKR MIX with his legs fully extended.
Space management is a major advantage of the SEA-M architecture. The high-integration thermal management system in the front cabin and the more compact rear electric drive system allow the front seats to move further forward and the rear seats further back, maximizing passenger space.
However, a wheelbase exceeding 3 meters might typically lead to a larger turning radius and reduced vehicle agility. Yet, leveraging the benefits of the SEA-M architecture, ZEEKR MIX achieves a front wheel steering angle of over 50°, resulting in a turning radius of under 5 meters.
During the demonstration at the event, ZEEKR MIX showcased a smaller turning radius compared to models like the MINI Cooper, Volkswagen ID.BUZZ, and FAW Audi Q5 e-tron, being the only model among them with a turning radius of less than 5 meters.
With this spatial arrangement, the ZEEKR MIX series is equipped with a single rear-drive motor, featuring a front MacPherson and rear multi-link suspension, leaving no room in the front for a second motor.
The rear-drive motor is compact, measuring 506*400*325 mm and weighing only 93.5 kg. However, it delivers a maximum power of 310 kW and maximum torque of 440 N·m, enabling the ZEEKR MIX to achieve a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 6.8 seconds. This is more than adequate for a family-oriented MPV.
The door opening mechanism of the ZEEKR MIX is quite unique. On the right side of the vehicle, the front and rear doors open in a suicide-door fashion, coupled with an outward swing; on the left side, the front door operates like a conventional vehicle, while the rear door swings outward before sliding back.
Prior to this, production cars without B-pillars were exceedingly rare, and some even required the front door to be opened before accessing the rear. The ZEEKR MIX differs, with all four doors being able to open and close independently, while the B-pillar, crucial for driving safety, is concealed within the door.
The B-pillars of the ZEEKR MIX are made of 2,000 Mpa hot-formed steel, seamlessly integrated within each of the four doors.
Due to the B-pillar being inside the door, the door feels relatively heavier to operate. The standard power doors available across all models mitigate this to some extent.
In addition to the concealed B-pillar, the ZEEKR MIX features A and C pillars made of ultra-high-strength hot-formed steel, along with ultra-high-strength door-side cross beams, seamlessly formed hot-stamped upper beams, and a 7-series aluminum front crash beam, contributing to safety. The ZEEKR MIX boasts a torsional rigidity of 37,600 Nm/degree, surpassing luxury brand SUVs and high-end MPVs.
Inside the vehicle, the movable and rotatable front seats enable a variety of configurations, offering 9 default seating modes. For example:
- Gathering Face-to-Face: The front seats rotate 180° backwards, allowing front and rear passengers to sit facing each other, transforming the car interior into a meeting room.
- Free Space: The front seats slide all the way forward, creating a 1.5 m² flat space with a height of 1.35 m, where children can play on the floor.* Co-pilot Scenery: The driver or co-driver’s seat rotates 90° outward, reminiscent of the welfare vehicles in Japanese MPVs, providing an option for in-car sightseeing.
- The event also demonstrated scenarios such as fitting an alpaca inside the car, with seats capable of rotating to allow lying back to bask in the sun. With 850 mm sliding travel in the front seats, 490 mm in the rear, and a moveable armrest island, ZEEKR MIX invites users to explore various driving modes.
MPVs are Equally Intelligent
In the domestic market, MPV usage is no longer limited to business trips, with more families opting for MPVs. This indicates the need for not only spaciousness but also increased intelligence in MPVs. ZEEKR MIX features ZEEKR’s latest intelligent solution—an intelligent cockpit system powered by 8295 chips and the Aegis Pilot 2.0.
The ZEEKR MIX’s front boasts three screens: a 13.02-inch instrument cluster, a 15.05-inch central control screen, and a 29-inch AR HUD. The central screen employs OLED technology with a resolution of 2,560*1,600, offering a color display capability of 1.07 billion colors and peak brightness of 800 nits. To accommodate different needs, this central screen can be manually rotated to the left or right.
The in-car chip is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295, with an AI computing power of 30 TOPS.
This intelligent cockpit system in the ZEEKR MIX is largely similar to the ZEEKR 007 and 7X released this year, providing a comparable experience.
Regarding sound, ZEEKR MIX utilizes the self-developed ZEEKR Sound Pro system, featuring 21 speakers, with a maximum amplifier output of 2,160 W, and also supports Dolby Atmos.
For assisted driving, ZEEKR MIX comes standard with Aegis Pilot 2.0, featuring dual NVIDIA Orin driving chips with a computing power of 508 TOPS. The driving perception elements include a roof-mounted LiDAR, 11 cameras, 5 millimeter-wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic radars.
Functionally, it can achieve high-speed autonomous navigation and will subsequently update to NZP Urban Navigation Pilot and mapless city NZP.
According to the plan, ZEEKR’s Aegis Pilot 2.0’s multi-level valet parking will be gradually pushed over 3 months, with a full push next year. The mapless city NZP will begin a phased rollout by the end of October. Additionally, the car-to-parking feature of NZP will be rolled out in batches over the next 3 months, with a nationwide full rollout in the second quarter next year.
Not only the ZEEKR MIX, but also owners of other ZEEKR models equipped with Haohan Smart Drive 2.0 can refer to the above feature release timeline.
For ZEEKR, Haohan Smart Drive 2.0 has complemented the hardware capabilities, yet there remains a gap in software functionality compared to industry leaders. It’s evident that Haohan Smart Drive 2.0 is rapidly catching up.
In Conclusion
Creating intriguing vehicles in an era of significant product homogenization in the electric vehicle sector, ZEEKR has introduced an exceptionally interesting productthe MIX.
This vehicle perfectly meets users’ demands for ample space while offering innovatively opening doors and a flexible driving experience. Refrigerator, color TV, and large sofa are currently significant criteria for a comfortable family car, and ZEEKR has made substantial innovations on these foundations to create the MIX. This might just be the 2.0 version of refrigerator, color TV, and large sofa, which aligns with MIX’s tagline “The Home of the Future.”
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.