Nio has posted two videos showcasing the superior suspension performance in its latest flagship, the all-electric ET9 saloon. The company resorted to the old stunt of putting glasses of water on the hood and driving the car over road bumps.
The first video seems to have been filmed with the front wheels of the car mounted on a vibration test rig. You can see them oscillating vertically while the body stays completely still. Two water-filled glasses standing where the hood cover meets the windshield remain still as well.
The other video is even more interesting to watch. It shows the ET9 being driven over artificial road bumps and imperfections with a whole champagne glass pyramid riding on its hood. Like in the first test, every glass is filled with water.
Nio’s goal here is to demonstrate just how efficient its patented active suspension, SkyRide, is thanks to hydraulic components and precise electronic control. The company claims that the emotions from driving are akin to those that pilots get from flying planes.
The ET9 debuted in late 2023. Nio said it hoped the SUV-like sedan would hold its own against the flagship products of European premium and luxury vehicle brands. To that end, it endowed the car with a couple of high-end motors making 707 PS (697 hp / 520 kW) and a four-wheel steering system.
Pre-orders are already in progress. The starting price is U.S. $112,000. The first deliveries will not be made until next year, the company warns.