What’s this new car all about then?
Stylish wagons are making a comeback and no mistake... although they never went away if you ask European makers like Audi and Porsche.
They're probably the kinds of cars Zeekr would like you to think of when you look at the new 7GT, a shooting-brake-kinda-thing that's on the way to New Zealand for a late-2026 or early-2027 launch. Zeekr NZ is already asking for expressions of interest from Kiwi customers.
There's a still a bit to do for our market, which is why the cars you see pictured here in Central Otago are Chinese-market left-hand drive models.
But we did drive them and even got to go a bit silly in controlled conditions, at Highlands Motorsport Park near Cromwell and atop the Southern Alps at a secret facility we're not allowed to name, but is well known to everybody and was in fact geo-located on the side of the cars: 45.03deg S, 169.68deg E. That "Zeekr On Ice" part of the event also included the forthcoming 8X and 9X large SUVs.
The 7GT is closely related to the 7X SUV underneath, so that's a good start. The 7X has been a success story for Zeekr here, outselling long-established rival European models like the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.
The 7GT is just 30mm longer than the 7X, but a whopping 194mm lower. It's a spacious five-seater, but make no mistake: this is as much about aero and style as anything. The 456-litre boot is pretty modest for the segment (nearly 100l smaller than the 7X); the RWD models get a 65l frunk as well.
Ah yes, models. We do know that the 7GT lineup will essentially mirror the 7X. So expect a rear-drive model with a 75kWh battery, a longer-range version of the same with a 100kWh pack and a flagship Performance AWD version.
Zeekr NZ has also confirmed the 7GT Performance will get a power bump over both the version already sold in Europe and the current 7X Performance: from 475kW to 500Nm. Torque is to be confirmed, but we'd expect it to stay at 710Nm.
The RWD models make 310kW/440Nm, but it's also possible they might rise to 335kW/440Nm for the local specification.
As with the 7X, the 75kWh model has Zeekr's LFP "Golden Brick Battery", while the 100kWh units are NMC. LFP chemistry is generally more accepting of a 100% charge, can handle more cycles over its lifetime and doesn't contain cobalt (which is the most environmentally concerning component of EV batteries), while NMC is lighter and has superior energy density.
The former is often preferred for mainstream/city cars, while the latter is deemed more suitable for high-performance models.
The 7GT has 800-volt architecture and both types can charge super-fast: 450kW for the LFP Golden Brick and 420kW for the 100kWh.
WLTP range figures for the European-market 7GT are 519km for the RWD 75kWh, 655km for the long range and 558km for the Performance.
Head of Zeekr's Shanghai studio Javier Garcia-Gallardo was in Central Otago for the Australasian media event. He calls models like 7GT and 7X part of "Chapter Two" of Zeekr's design development. It's a young company, part of the Geely Group but only launched in 2021 as a spinoff of Lynk & Co; its first model, the 001, was originally a Lynk & Co concept car.
"The 001, X and 009 helped Zeekr to establish itself as a premium global player," says Gallardo. "With these three key vehicles, we created a wide range of possibilities for customers.
"Today we focus on Chapter Two, and the 7GT. This is a design language that was created for a whole generation of cars, including the 7X. We call it 'Hidden Energy'.
"Our goal was to create a vehicle aesthetic that feels really like a concept car. We're trying to mix what are very muscular surface volumes together with these technology islands".
How much is it?
That's an impossible question right now, given Zeekr NZ hasn't seen right-hand drive cars yet, decided on final specification for each of the models or even completely nailed down launch timing.
But we can make some educated guesses. It would be natural to assume the 7GT will be slightly more expensive than the equivalent 7X models, which are $69,990 for the RWD 75kWh, $79,990 for the RWD long range and $94,990 for the Performance.
After all, it's a more indulgent machine, with the opportunity cost for more style being less practicality.
That may well be the case. But in some markets, including China, the 7GT is actually cheaper than the 7X.
Or maybe Zeekr NZ will mix it up a little and position the 7GT RWD models under the 7X, but create a super-7GT Performance AWD flagship with every possible option. That's what we'd do; but then we write stories, we don't sell cars.
What’s it like to drive?
It was high times at Highlands Motorsport Park and up the mountain. Although circuit driving and skids on snow are really not the ideal environments for assessing the on-road behaviour of an unfamiliar car.
It was all part of a wider event showcasing future models to key media and customers rather than a full-on car launch in the conventional sense. That'll come later. We did have fun, so perhaps just be happy for us.
Based on previous experience of the 7X, it's clear the 7GT is also more grand tourer (hey, it's in the name) than outright performance car. Although that's also in the name of the top model, which is indeed very fast: 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds even without the extra grunt (the 7GT and 7X "Performance" models are badged "Privilege" in some other markets).
The 7GT is a smooth operator and likes to flow from corner-to-corner. It hides its weight quite well (2265-2405kg depending on model) and grips tenaciously, especially with the extra traction of the AWD models, but it's not one to respond well to rapid transitions; through tight racetrack corners, for example.
The 7GT Performance has fancy active air suspension with continuous damper control (CDC), so you can tie it down a bit tighter. But even then, it's no circuit-special.
This should be a slick thing to drive on-road though, given it has the same basic mechanical systems and the same 2900mm wheelbase as the 7X. And we really like that car.
A more focused (and even faster, incredibly) 7GT is a possibility, perhaps as a special edition. The green car with bronze wheels you see in the some of these images is the 7GT FR Line, a dressed-up version that references the ultra-high-performance quad-motor 001 FR.
A powered-up version of the FR Line is on sale in China with 585kW, and can hit 100km/h in a claimed 2.85 seconds.
Back to reality: the 7GT comes with the top 5 star safety rating from ANCAP, and that's under the tougher new 2026 protocols.
What’s the pick of the range?
Hard to pick without more information and more driving time, but given the 7GT looks sensational in any form and it's more a quick cruiser than anything, a RWD version with that Golden Brick Battery for around $70k would be a very appealing proposition.
What other cars should I consider?
The price range will be quite broad, so the Zeekr 7GT could compete with both mainstream and premium models. The RWD models could line up against the Toyota bZ4X Touring AWD ($71,990) or sister Subaru Trailseeker.
But Zeekr likes to think of itself as a premium brand, so perhaps you could look at a high-end 7GT as a high-value rival to the Audi A6 Avant e-tron ($144,990-$202,990). Definitely the forthcoming Denza Z9GT by virtue of its country of origin and styling proportion, although it's also likely be much more expensive.
And this is stretching things a lot, but let's have fun: the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, an obvious styling inspiration for both the 7GT and Z9GT, is $263,000-$399,000. Yes, yes, we know. But the Zeekr 7GT does look pretty cool.