Nio is one of China’s more interesting automakers and the company has unveiled the new EC7 as well as the redesigned ES8. The EC7 is being billed as a “mid-large flagship coupe SUV” that sports a drag coefficient as low as 0.23. The company says this gives the model the lowest drag coefficient of any crossover in the world. In order to hit that figure, the EC7 features a streamlined design with flush-mounted door handles as well as a rakish windscreen that flows into a sloping roof. The model also has an active rear wing, which is a first for the automaker.
Elsewhere, there’s a large panoramic glass
roof that uses double-layer sound and heat insulating glass. However, it’s more notable for having
electrochromic technology which allows for five levels of transparency ranging
from clear to opaque. In terms of size, the crossover measures 4,968 mm long, 1,974 mm wide, and 1,714 mm tall
with a wheelbase that spans 2,960 mm. To put those numbers into perspective, the
EC7 is slightly longer, narrower, and taller than the BMW X6.
Moving into the cabin, the entry-level
variant comes nicely equipped with a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a
12.8-inch infotainment system. They’re
joined by perforated synthetic leather front seats with heating, ventilation
and massage functions. More notably, the
crossover has a “Queen’s co-pilot” front passenger seat with a one-button
comfort mode that lifts a footrest while also lowering the backrest to give its
occupant a ‘zero-gravity’ feel.
Other highlights include a tri-zone
climate control system, a smart fragrance system, and a 23-speaker audio system
with Dolby Atmos technology. Rear seat
passengers haven’t been forgotten as they’ll find a 6.6-inch display and heated
seats with power recline.
On the performance front, customers can
get 75, 100, and 150 kWh battery packs that offer ranges of up to 490 km, 635 km, and 940 km, respectively, in the CLTC
cycle. Regardless of which battery is
selected, the crossover coupe has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing
a combined output of 644 hp and 850 Nm of torque. This enables the model to hit 100
km/h in as little as 3.8 seconds.
The EC7 is now available to order and
deliveries are slated to begin in May.
Pricing starts at ¥ 488,000 (US$ 70,113) and climbs to ¥ 546,000 (US$ 78,447)
for models equipped with the 100 kWh battery pack. If that’s too steep, Nio offers a
battery-as-a-service option that reduces the price tag to ¥ 418,000 (US$ 60,056).
