December 19th 2021
If we talk about the new electric automakers, the Chinese company NIO stands at the top. In only five years, the electric carmaker introduced five models – the efforts are utterly remarkable. The current model lineup includes the EC6 coupe-crossover, ES6 mid-size crossover, ES8 full-size crossover, EP9 hypercar and the ET7 flagship sedan slated to arrive at the start of next year. Now, the company has introduced its sixth offering, the NIO ET5 compact sedan which will rival the Tesla Model 3.
Seeing the pictures the automaker shared, it borrows its design cues from its bigger sibling, the ET7. In fact, NIO created the ET5 following the aerodynamics and efficiency of ET7. However, we can notice little dissimilarities in the lights and the front bumper. The most significant changes are the longer foglight housings and aero intakes as well as the shorter rear and more rounded-off tail. The pods on the roof are there to accommodate self-driving technologies.
Speaking of the vehicle proportions, it is 188.6 inches (4,790 millimetres) long (from bumper to bumper), 77.1 inches (1,960 mm) wide, and 59 inches (59 mm) tall. The wheelbase stands at 113.7 inches (2,888 mm). These measurements make us believe it slots in the higher end of the compact sedan segment.
Peeking inside, we find the interior minimalistic, much like other electric vehicles in the market. It means fewer buttons, more screens, the biggest of which is a squared-design display for the infotainment system. Furthermore, we can see a 10.5-inch display for the instrument cluster, 256-colour ambient lighting, and a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 surround sound system.
Another highlight of the NIO ET5 is PanoCinema, boasting AR and VR technologies created with the help of NREAL that makes AR glasses only for NIO.
Now the most exciting part; the EV’s performance and range. The NIO ET5 features a dual-motor setup with three battery choices. The electric powertrain can create 483 horsepower (360 kilowatts) and 516 foot-pounds (700 Newton-meters) of torque, while buyers can opt for either 75 kWh, 100 kWh, or 150 kWh battery pack. The company says the 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) run is possible in 4.3 seconds.
Speaking of drive range, the least powerful battery can deliver around 341 miles (550 km), 435 miles (700km) with the 100 kWh battery, and 621 miles (1,000km) with the 150kWh battery.
NIO plans to start deliveries of the compact sedan in September next year. Those interested in this EV have to dole out at least 328,000 yuan ($51,447 at present exchange values), without government subsidies. With subsidies, the price will reduce to 258,000 yuan or a little above $40,000. The NIO ET5 will be initially accessible for consumers in China, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark. The availability in the UAE and the US is still not confirmed.
Source and Images: Motor1