Chinese electric brand NIO has unveiled the new ET5, the company’s first mid-sized sedan, in an online presentation.
The ET5 is NIO’s sixth production model to-date, its most compact vehicle yet, and is the second model to sit atop the NIO’s Technology Platform 2.0 architecture. The first – the ET7, NIO’s Chinese equivalent to the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class – was unveiled earlier this year in January, while a third is expected to land in the Chinese market next year.
Nio ET5
The sedan features an all-wheel drive configuration, incorporating a 150 kW (around 201 hp) “induction asynchronous” motor on the front axle, and a 210 kW (around 282 hp) motor powering the rear axle for a maximum output of 360 kW (just under 483 hp) and 516 lb-ft of peak torque. Though the overall kerb weight has yet to be revealed, said power/torque figures are enough to get the ET5 from 0-to-100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds.
Granted, the performance is also dependent on the mated battery, with 75 kWh (Standard Range Battery), 100 kWh (Long Range Battery), and 150 kWh (Ultralong Range Battery) options available. The respective electric ranges of each are said to be “over 550 km”, “over 700 km”, and, impressively, “over 1,000 km” for the Ultralong Range Battery.
Nio ET5
Most of the focus on the ET5 though concerns the “pure and precise exterior” and the “cossetting second living space inside”. Measuring 4,790 mm in length (the wheelbase alone measures 2,888 mm), inspiration for the exterior design – sculpted to create a drag co-efficient of just 0.24 – has been taken from the larger ET7. Notable elements include a full-length glass panel in the arcing roof, uber thin LED headlamps, air inlet curtains in the front bumper, and a spiffy ducktail rear spoiler, under which is a full-width LED light bar.
The inside meanwhile proves more minimalist, and features a 10.2-inch digital driver display, a 12.8-inch “PanoCinema” touchscreen that commands the centre console, and an ambient light feature encompassing 256 colours. The official release also confirmed that upgrades for the NIO Autonomous Driving software will be rolled out pending further development.
Nio ET5
Set to hit the Chinese market early next year, the prices for the ET5 start from around $66,600 for the 75 kWh battery model. NIO has also spoken of expanding its network further afield, specifying Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark as its next European markets in 2022 having already entered Norway.
On top of this, NIO has also confirmed intentions to “establish its presence in over 25 countries and regions worldwide” by 2025, suggesting possible markets will open up in North America.
