Chinese carmaker Nio has premiered the EC6, its first coupe-like SUV based on the ES6 tech and components. Read on for the specs and launch dates.
Driven by two electric engines, the Nio EC6 delivers 435 PS (320 kW) and up to 610 Nm (450 lb-ft) of torque to the wheels, accelerating 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 5.6 seconds. You may opt for a stronger 320hp (240kW) engine on the rear axle, which would net you 544 PS (400 kW) and 725 Nm (535 lb-ft) of torque and reduce the launch time to 4.7 seconds. The standard-spec battery offers between 425 and 435 kilometers of range (264 – 270 miles) for both versions.
The company claims that the slanted roof reduces the aerodynamic drag of the SUV to just 0.27. The car comes with an impressively large panoramic glass roof (2.1 square meters, or 22.6 square feet). The precise outer dimensions are unknown, but the comparably large superior model – the ES6 – is 4,850 mm (15.91 ft.) long and has 2,900 mm (9.51 ft.) of wheelbase.
The equipment list mentions a Level 2 self-driving system based on 23 sensors and OTA updates. The wheels measure 255/55 R19 by default, but you may opt for 255/50 R20 or 265/45 R21 instead.
The sales launch is scheduled for July 2020, with the first actual shipments expected in September.
As for the ES8, Nio’s current flagship, it gets a mid-life update in 2020. The unpopular top spec (653 PS / 480 kW, 840 Nm / 620 lb-ft) goes out of production, but the others get larger displays, NFC support, and revised trims. Sales of the 2020 ES8 begin in April.
Finally yet importantly, Nio launches a new, larger battery size for its entire lineup. The 100-kWh battery promises 615 km (382 mi) of range for the EC6, 610 km (379 mi) for the ES6, and 580 km (360 mi) for the ES8. The previously available batteries could save up to 70 and 84 kilowatt-hours of power and ranked between 355 and 510 km (220 – 317 miles). The new battery size will only become available by the end of 2020.
Like many other local manufacturers, Nio has fallen on hard times lately. EV sales in China were plummeting already when the government cut down the subsidies for EV buyers, dealing a further blow to the market. As a result, only 17,776 Nio-branded vehicles found their owners in January through November 2019.