A recent trip to China provided a clear preview of the next wave of automotive brands preparing to enter the UK market.
Initial driving impressions at these overseas events are often restricted to a few concentrated minutes around a tightly coned track. However, forcing heavy, high-torque vehicles through sudden braking zones and sharp slalom turns serves as an excellent immediate stress test for a new chassis. These short track stints covered everything from budget-focused hatchbacks with imminent UK launch dates to high-performance estates and luxury flagships. Each model demonstrated a highly competitive baseline of engineering that looks well-equipped to challenge established European manufacturers.
First Drive: Geely EX2
The UK electric vehicle market is about to get a lot more crowded, and the spearhead for Geely’s latest European push arrives this August in the form of the EX2.
Armed with a budget-friendly target price, this compact hatchback is aimed squarely at high-volume urban fleets, pool-car operations and entry-level salary sacrifice tiers.
We got our first taste of the incoming EV on a tightly coned, high-intensity gymkhana course in China. While a few minutes around a track cannot replicate a week on standard British roads, the nature of a gymkhana acts as a concentrated stress test for any chassis.
Immediately, the EX2 reveals its core character. This is an incredibly easy car to drive, with a clear bias towards urban comfort and user-friendliness rather than sharp, athletic responsiveness. The steering is light and effortless, making it highly suited for navigating tight multi-storey car parks or congested city delivery routes. Through the slalom, the suspension prioritised soaking up weight transitions smoothly over carving a sports-car line, highlighting its role as a relaxed commuter tool.
Interestingly, the driving experience is not entirely set in stone. The development engineers on site were exceptionally keen to gather feedback from Western journalists. With the UK launch approaching, there is still an active window for Geely to refine the software parameters, steering weight and damper settings to better suit the unique demands of European fleet drivers.
Even in its current comfortable state, the cabin packaging looks solid. It offers good passenger space, a flat floor and straightforward ergonomics. If the final production versions get a slightly sharper chassis tune before August, the EX2 could become a very compelling alternative in the small EV market.
First Drive: Zeekr 7G7
The Zeekr brand has not yet been officially confirmed for the UK, but the fact that we were steered into the cockpit of the 7GT by Geely’s UK team suggests a right-hand-drive launch is highly likely.
This sleek, electric shooting brake looks set to offer a rare estate-car alternative in a market dominated by crossovers, making it a very intriguing prospect for high-mileage business drivers and salary sacrifice choosers.
The 7GT felt at home with the unique demands a tight course provides. This is a very sharp-handling car that responds instantaneously to driver inputs, with keen acceleration and strong-yet-progressive brakes. Despite the tight, coned-off layout of the track, the 7GT managed its weight beautifully, delivering a highly responsive feel through the corners without sacrificing ride comfort. It felt flat, agile and alert, suggesting a sophisticated chassis setup that should adapt well to more demanding roads.
Inside, the cabin leans heavily into a premium, executive aesthetic. The black test car featured a dark interior theme, but this was smartly broken up by bright yellow seatbelts. It is a small styling touch, but one that successfully adds a bit of sporting character to what could otherwise be a rather sombre cabin.
Coupled with its impressive handling, the 7GT features high-end charging hardware that claims a 10% to 80% top-up in under 15 minutes. If Zeekr does make the official move to the UK market, the cool GT could make a strong impression.
First Drive: Zeekr 7X
Zeekr has yet to officially announce its arrival in Britain, but the opportunity to sample its line-up via Geely’s UK team points towards a launch in the near future. This large SUV places the manufacturer right at the heart of the corporate sector, targeting a segment currently seeing immense volume from salary sacrifice users.
Driving through the gymkhana gates, the 7X quickly demonstrates that a taller body style does not have to mean compromised driving dynamics. It turns into corners with reassuring precision, resisting excessive body lean when asked to change direction quickly around the cones. The chassis control is particularly impressive, blending that agility with a supple, forgiving ride that irons out sudden thumps well. It feels stable and buttoned-down, which bodes well for longer motorway journeys.
The 7X cabin prioritises space and relaxation. It is a bright environment with excellent glass area, providing plenty of rear passenger legroom and a generous, square boot that looks ready for standard family duties.
The vehicle features an advanced electrical architecture capable of accepting ultra-rapid DC charging speeds. If Zeekr executes its UK launch plans smoothly, on first impressions, the 7X has all the right ingredients to cause ripples among some established players.
First Drive: Zeekr 9X
The Zeekr nameplate remains an unconfirmed newcomer for the UK market at the time of writing; the opportunity to evaluate its flagship model points to a sophisticated product line-up waiting in the wings.
This heavily scaled vehicle represents a dramatic shift away from traditional luxury executive transport, blending a commanding road presence with a plug-in hybrid powertrain with an enormous battery.
Despite its considerable physical footprint and substantial kerb weight, the 9X delivers an immediately impressive driving experience on the gymkhana circuit. It possesses an immense amount of performance, accelerating off the line with the kind of urgent, effortless authority usually reserved for high-end sports cars. When pitched into the tight coned sections, the active suspension works hard to keep the body level, masking its bulk remarkably well and feeling far more agile than its silhouette suggests.
The interior environment leans heavily into an upmarket, business-class aesthetic. The cabin materials feel exceptionally premium, providing a whisper-quiet space where road and mechanical noises are completely isolated from the occupants.
Crucially for the UK company car market, its mechanical layout sets a new benchmark. Instead of the modest batteries usually found in plug-in hybrids, the 9X carries a massive 70kWh battery pack that unlocks a vast, pure electric range. This allows for days of emission-free commuting alongside a petrol engine for uninterrupted cross-country travel. By combining absolute luxury with such a usable electric radius, this imposing flagship makes a strong case for itself.
