Look Cycles × CIXI — Rover 45
A chainless urban speed pedelec built to open a new category on LOOK's terms.
LOOK Cycles is a French heritage sports brand with decades of precision manufacturing behind them. Their partnership with CIXI — whose PERS chainless pedaling system removes the mechanical link between pedal and wheel entirely — created a unique design opportunity. The challenge wasn't purely engineering: it was ensuring the product felt like LOOK and opened a credible new chapter for the brand. ZÆT began with an in-person strategic session at LOOK headquarters in Nevers before any design work began.
The Rover 45 was presented at Eurobike 2023, establishing LOOK and CIXI as a credible partnership in the premium urban electrified mobility space and setting a design language for the range going forward.
How ZÆT was involved
Define Direction
· On-site strategic session at LOOK HQ
· Brand DNA analysis
· CIXI PERS technology requirements
· Commercial feasibility and market positioning
Build the Foundation
· Chainless frame engineering
· Battery as structural element
· Integration of contact points
· Speed pedelec regulatory framing
Execute and Launch
· Full frame specification
· Production rendering suite
· Strategic brief for ongoing range
· LOOK × CIXI partnership framework
The Result
