During Nio Day 2022, the Chinese EV-maker unveiled two flagship SUVs, a refresh of the ES8 and the EC7 coupe SUV, which Nio claims has market-leading aerodynamics, a possible Audi e-tron rival.
Nio unveils two flagship electric SUVs
Nio held its annual Feel the Light event over the weekend and introduced a range of new products. Thanking the nearly 300,000 people who came out, William Li, Founder and Chairman of Nio said:
Feel the light – it shines on us with optimism, kindness and hope. To continue the great spirit in the NIO community, in 2023 we will continue to provide products, technology and services worldwide to exceed user expectations.
At the event, Nio unveiled two new flagship electric SUVs. The Nio EC7 is a mid-size coupe SUV equipped with intelligent air suspension and rides on Nio’s second-generation NT 2.0 technology platform. With a 300 kW induction motor combined with a 180 kW permanent magnet motor, the EC7 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, making it the fastest Nio SUV to date and a possible rival to the Audi e-tron.
Meanwhile, according to Nio, the EC7 has a drag coefficient of just 0.230 cd, making it the most aerodynamic electric vehicle in the world. Additionally, the flagship coupe features an adjustable rear wing, a first for the EV maker, that allows for drag reduction and control.
Nio EC7 Coupe SUV Source: Nio
Inside, the SUV has a 1.94 square meter panoramic sunroof with lighting that can be adjusted in five stages. The price is around $70,000 for the 75kWh battery and $78,500 for the 100kWh. Compared to the 2023 Audi e-tron starting at $70,800.
The Nio ES8, on the other hand, is a six-seater smart electric SUV, also based on the electric vehicle manufacturer’s second-generation platform. The ES8 presents two electric motors with a maximum output of 480 kW and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds.
Nio ES8 Source: Nio
The ES8 will start at around $75,000 for the 75kWh battery and $84,000 for the 100kWh. Both new flagship SUVs are available in stores now, with EC7 deliveries expected to start in May 2023, followed by ES8 deliveries in June 2023 in China.
Both the EC7 and ES8 come fully equipped with intelligent ADB multi-beam headlights with the ability to project patterns or animations, reduce glare and emit warning beams with lidar and cameras.
Perhaps more importantly, Nio’s new flagship SUVs feature fully autonomous battery swaps, where the vehicle can plan the route, drive to the power swap station, and automatically complete the swap before jumping back onto the highway. The feature will roll out in the first half of 2023.
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