Chinese electric car start-up NIO is expanding its presence beyond mainland China and venturing into the heart of Anglo-Saxon Europe. This move will bring about an intriguing clash of cultures as NIO introduces its battery-electric SUV, the EL6, which is currently available for purchase in select European territories. Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway have been identified as the initial target markets for NIO’s expansion in Europe. This strategic move marks NIO’s intention to establish a foothold in key European countries and cater to a new customer base with its electric vehicles.
The NIO EL6 features a standard dual-motor four-wheel drive system comprising of a 150 kW front induction motor and a 210 kW rear permanent magnet motor, with a total power output of 482bhp (360 kW) and a peak torque of 700 Nm. It is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60mph in just 4.5 seconds, while high-performance four-piston fixed calipers deliver a braking distance of just 34.5 meters from 60mph.
The EL6 features a Heads-up Display (HUD) and intelligent Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) headlights as standard. Supported by the AQUILA Super Sensing system, the LiDAR works with the front-view cameras to automatically detect road conditions, controlling the lighting system to ensure accurate beam distribution while avoiding interference with other road users to enhance safety.
The NIO EL6 features tailor-made acoustic fabric on the speakers, enhancing the audio experience while providing a premium look and feel. Thanks to the EL6 offering the largest openable sunroof in its class, almost one square meter of natural sunlight can enter the cabin to further boost the atmosphere.
The EL6 is available in ten body colors and four interior themes, including two shades that are exclusive to the car – Galaxy Shadow for the exterior and Warm Gravel for the interior.
Users can choose from nine driving modes. NIO’s proprietary Intelligent Chassis Controller (ICC) works with the car’s Continuous Damping Control (CDC) system to make up to 500 damping adjustments per second. NIO is debuting its Intelligent Smooth Stop (ISS) on the ES6, which can automatically adjust its braking force.
While the price and specifications for the EL6 have not been disclosed by NIO for the European market, the vehicle is currently priced at approximately $52,000 in China. This price point positions the EL6 as a premium offering within the market. Itt will be interesting to see how the pricing of the EL6 compares to other premium electric SUVs available in the region.
