It's not every day that you're asked to skid and slide a suite of unreleased cars across the snow in Queenstown. But that's exactly was Zeekr invited us to do.

An intimate group were flown to a private location in New Zealand's Queenstown, where we then boarded a bus (and later a helicopter) that would take us to a secret automotive testing ground high up in the mountains.

It was here that we were greeted by five models in the powder-white snow: crowd-favourite Zeekr X, top-10-best-selling EV in Australia 7X, the motorhead's favourite 001 and newcomers 8X and 9X. The view of the full Zeekr line-up against the background of the Southern Alps left little doubt as to why Zeekr is Australia's fastest-growing automative brand.

Zeekr heralds itself as a design-led brand, and it has the credentials to back it up. The company has two design hubs: the original home of Zeekr design in Gothenburg, Sweden, and a production studio in Shanghai, China.

Head designer Javier Garcia Gallardo is the creative mind leading Zeekr's unique aesthetic. When he set out to create the iconic Zeekr design, he started by engineering a design language that could transcend a car, and be universally identifiable, no matter the medium. This is why you'll see Zeekr with a presence in spaces like Milan Design Week, where the brand doesn't necessarily show cars, rather its future-facing and human-led approach to design.

When jetting to the snow for a weekend in winter, you typically have to stop somewhere inconvenient to rope chains onto your tires for the rest of the journey. At least that's what I thought when I gingerly stepped foot onto the frozen ground, nearly falling more than once. Instead, we were to be driving the X, 7X, 8X, 9x and 001 completely chain-free.

After a very-thorough briefing, we were handed our wheels for the day and encouraged to perform a series of understeer, oversteer and combination manoeuvres so we could feel how the cars perform when put through their paces.

If you've never driven a Zeekr before, you might not realise how formidable such a prospect is. Its fetching curb-appeal hides a weight of roughly two tonnes to three and a half tonnes of batteries, steel and style - depending on which model you choose. Flirt with the accelerator more than you should and you're greeted by a jolt of speed that pushes you back in your seat and sends you from where you were to somewhere else in no-time-flat. Putting that on a slick alpine course, then, wasn't for the faint of heart.

For someone who had never done this kind of stunt driving before, it was intimidating to deliberately drift, skid and slide while behind the wheel. Especially as you have to turn the electric stability control (ESC) off on the X and 7X in order to actually make the manoeuvres possible. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much control I still had. Each of the cars managed to regain traction within seconds.

But it's this clever design by the Swedish team at Zeekr that keeps the car so planted underfoot. The rubber grabs the road thanks to the low centre of gravity gifted to the car by the strategic placement of its batteries. No sooner than you step out of your own line to do something flamboyant are you rewarded by the comfort and safety of the car resuming its normal course. In some of the other cars that grace this mountain - ones with heavy, front-mounted engines - that sort of stability wouldn't be a given.

Zeekr is one of those rare brands that caters to both those who care about spin and torque, but also those who focus on comfort and practical function. I knew this already as I'm very familiar with the X and its 400km range; and I have not been shy about the fact that it's one of my favourite cars currently on Australian roads. The 7X is the older-sister with a battery range of around 600km. A vehicle that's easy to handle, tech-led and supremely comfortable, just with more space.

The 8X and 9X are new and unreleased, the finer details including range yet to be confirmed. They're far bigger cars than what I am used to driving, but once you're behind the wheel these models are so spry and agile you'd have no idea you're commanding more than three tonnes of car. And undeniably, they're both deliberately designed to make an impact. Head-turners on any given day.

I'd already had a preview of the 9X as this was the car that picked us up from the airport. It's a absurdly luxurious 6-seater with a fridge, retractable TV and recliner seats with a heat and massage setting – yes, even for the rear passengers. I'd be lying if I didn't admit to escaping the cold more than once to huddle in the back of this model with the massage feature on high.

The 8X is more scaled down version. The same luxury ethos but in a consumer-vehicle-sized package. But a third row of seats is optional if you need a true people-mover. With the chic finishings and incredible sound system, it's the kind of car that makes driving feel like a treat, and never a chore.

The experience showcased that there's perhaps never been a more exciting time in the Australian automotive market. Zeekr's current models are already disrupting the space in a much needed way. With three new models penciled in for 2027, the ripple effect will only continue. As for my time in the snow, taking a drive on ice is a subtle reminder that it's not about how fast you go, it's about how fast it feels.

Mia Steiber travelled as a guest of Zeekr

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