2024 Zeekr X

2024 Zeekr X - Design Review

​Overall Grade = B-
​SHOWROOM

Front End: B-
    Good: Aggressive look
    Bad: Flat Faced
Rear End: C+
    Good: Accents
    Bad: Little viewing area
Side: C+
    Good: Mirrors?
    Bad: Alternate universe locations
Overall Appeal: B-
    Good: Little evil one of the pack
    Bad: Still a bit too simple​

​​​​​​Score: 61.98%
Grade: B-
Rating: Showroom
AutoLooks Rating: 6.2 out of 10

Front End: 63.50%
Rear End: 60.78%
Side: 59.29%
Overall Appeal: 64.35%

AutoLooks Buy List: YES
Recommended Tuner: YES
Trent Setter: YES
Future Classic: YES
Stock Value: INCREASE

     Zeekr is what happens when you have an identity crisis.  Over at Geely, Lynk & Co. couldn’t decide where they wanted to go, so its parent decided to separate its segment business out.  Today Zeekr is a new up and coming brand from Geely, joining the likes of Lotus, Smart and Polestar, as they take on the world of premium EV’s.  With an image based off Lynk & Co., Zeekr is more than just your standard premium product, as they plan to move into new segments not occupied by the big makes. 

​       With its entry into the automotive world through their 001-shooting

​brake, Zeekr has made a name for themselves.  Showcasing similar design language to Lynk & Co., Zeekr differentiates themselves from their sibling brand, by offering products higher up the food chain.  Where Lynk & Co. is focused on the entry level market and technology, where Zeekr is here to take over when you move up in the corporate world.  Like the how the Corolla and Camry compliment each other.

​      Like its sibling, the front end of the Zeekr is ripe with hard edges and flat surfaces.  Zeekr has gone a step further to make their surfaces a bit harder than that of Lynk, as their headlamps are less bubble and more frog.  Slim lines help these lamps blend into the hood as a center character line creates the hard image of the hood.
 
      A bit lower you will find yourself gazing upon a mass expanse of a body colour plate grille.  Although bland and boring, this area is nicely accented by a lower intake and some then side gills.  The gills in which extend above the front plate to help break this area from becoming part of the hood.  Although the placement of the front camera breaks this outline to extend onto the front hood.  Only the flat outline of the front intake space can help you tell where the hood ends and the plate begins.

     ​Sliding down the side profile you find yourself looking for where things begin and end.  With most of the side profile lines starting and ending at non occurring points.  Confusing hard edged character lines are not new, but a lack of self defining accents is a new fad which throws off your focus.  A loss of proper blend of key aspects is one thing the X has going for it as the rear lights, side sill cladding and drivers side window, do not blend well with their surroundings.  Edging is a new fad, but this fad forgets that the best designs flow with their surroundings.
 
     We may not be fans of the edging layout, but we do have to hand it to Zeekr on their amount of character.  This design is well defined and will stand out against the crowd.  Too bad the wheel wells decided to add on clean lackluster lines to break this image up.  Some hard edges here along with complete flow to the cladding, would help this area flow and fit with the character profile of this vehicle.

     ​If you are like Queen and like Fat Bottom Girls, then the X may be what you are looking for.  The rear of the X is where all the hard edges fly out the window.  Given way to a nice round rear, the X really shows is short stature here.  Up top you will find an odd location and layout for the brake light band, as it sits atop the tiny rear spoiler.  Something of which is not sized properly for this vehicle.  Protruding from the top of the vehicle, this light slowly draws your eye in as the focal point.  Too bad, as just a bit lower the rear light fixture is something to be seen.
 
      Popping out from the rear, the X’s 3D tail lights create a new level as they try to blend into the black accents below the window.  Zeekr tries to fool us with side gills on the rear, but we can see that these are just reflectors inserted to give the appeal of side gills.  Nice touch, but you cannot fool us.
 
      A bit lower Zeekr has added a nice rear skid plate in place of a diffuser.  Although a diffuser on a hatchback is an odd thing to see, it is less odd than a skid plate.  What are they accounting for, backing over curbs in the Wal-Mart parking lot.  Next time lets the airflow out and leave the curbs to the highly visible backup camera.

​                Overall, the appeal of the X is a hit when it comes being a new age design which could influence the marketplace.  A not so enticing profile is overshadowed by the extensive amount of character.  Although this character sometimes is all over the place, it still makes enough of a statement to make you see the future.  All we must ask of Geely, is can you change the rims for the next model.  Thin, wire wheels are not a nice touch with a futuristic design.

Everett J.
#autolooks

---

​COMPETITION:
Audi Q2 - 50.91%
DS 3 - 50.17%
ArcFox Alpha T - 61.43%
Acura RDX - 60.08%