Zeekr 7X makes history on the sand

The desert can be a very difficult place for cars, and most of the time, large 4x4 trucks with gasoline engines are the kings of the dunes. But on December 31, 2025, a special version of the Zeekr 7X became the first all-electric car to ever climb the famous Moreeb Dune in Abu Dhabi. And in case you were thinking this was a slow drive to the top, the Zeekr 7X flew up the sand in only 7.343 seconds, setting a brand-new record for both EVs and hybrid vehicles.

Moreeb Dune is often called the "Hill of Fear," and it is easy to see why. The dune is 984 ft tall, which is about as high as a 90-story building. Even worse for drivers, the slope is a steep 50 degrees. At the Liwa International Festival, where this happened, the sand is soft and likes to pull cars downward. Most people thought only traditional engines could handle such a vertical climb, but Zeekr proved that electric cars have the muscle to tackle the toughest nature can throw at them.

The car used for this record was the Zeekr 7X AWD Performance model. This vehicle uses two electric motors that produce 646 horsepower and 524 lb-ft of torque. Because EVs give all their power the moment you touch the accelerator, the SUV didn't need much of a run-up either, plus its advanced 800V electrical system kept the power flowing steadily even while fighting the massive sand hill.

To make sure the car could handle the "Hill of Fear," a team from the AW Rostamani Group made a few changes. They added special tires meant for off-roading and better suspension to soak up the bumps. Both front and rear axles were extended to give the car a wider footprint but the electric motors and the battery were exactly the same as in the Zeekr you can buy from a dealership. The car also used a smart "torque vectoring" system, which decides exactly how much power to send to each wheel so they don't just spin uselessly in the sand.

For buyers who want this kind of power for their daily commute, the Zeekr 7X is a large and comfortable SUV. It is 188.5 inches long and 76 inches wide, making it a bit larger than many of its rivals. Inside, it has plenty of room for families and 27 ft³ of space for luggage in the back.

In the United Arab Emirates, the price for a new Zeekr 7X starts at about 169,900 AED (around $46,260). If you want the top Performance version that conquered the dune, the price is closer to 209,900 AED (about $57,150). In Europe, the cheapest 7X starts from $62,080 while in China the base version is about $32,000.

The record-breaking run is quite a big deal for the future of electric cars. For a long time, people worried that EVs were only good for city driving or paved roads, but by reaching the top of Moreeb Dune faster than any hybrid or electric car before it, Zeekr proved that the "Hill of Fear" is no match for modern technology.

The point here isn't to prove that an EV is better - after all, not everyone is planning to climb sand dunes on their daily commute. The point is that if an EV needs to do it, it can, and it doesn't need expensive modifications either. As more people look for cars that do not use gasoline, achievements like this prove that you do not have to give up excitement or power to go green.

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