Rivaling Tesla, NIO launches ET7 electric sedan with autonomous driving
As the company's first-ever battery-powered sedan, Chinese electric vehicle maker NIO has launched the all-new ET7 model in its home country. It is based on the NIO ET Preview concept from 2019 and is the fourth electric car from the brand. The ET7 has an eye-catching design, an upmarket cabin with hi-tech features, and is offered with a choice of two battery packs.
NIO ET7: At a glance
The NIO ET7 features a sloping roofline, a muscular bonnet, a wide air dam, and sleek headlights. On the sides, the car is flanked by blacked-out B-pillars, ORVMs, flush door handles, and designer alloy wheels. A single large wrap-around taillight graces the rear section. As for the dimensions, it has a wheelbase of 3,060mm and a length of 5,098mm.
A peek inside the cabin
The NIO ET7 offers sport seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions, a glass roof, 23 speakers, "invisible smart air vents," frameless windows, and the world's first Ultra-Wideband (UWB) digital key. A multifunctional flat-bottom steering wheel is also available. The sedan has an advanced dashboard with a head-up display (HUD) as standard, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, and a massive 12.8-inch center display.
It also offers advanced autonomous driving technology
The NIO ET7 features the company's latest NAD (NIO Autonomous Driving) technology, which includes state-of-the-art solutions include "Adam"—a NIO Super Computing system, eleven 8MP cameras, and LiDAR sensors. This driving technology will be available via a monthly subscription worth 680 yuan (roughly Rs. 7,700).
Power and performance
The NIO ET7 comes with two battery choices: 70kWh and 100kWh, which deliver a range of more than 500km and 700km, respectively. A 150kWh battery version will be introduced in late-2022 that is touted to deliver a range of over 1,000km. The flagship sedan runs on a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain with an output of 643.7hp/850Nm. It can sprint from 0-100km/h in just 3.9 seconds.
Pricing and availability
The ET7 costs 448,000 yuan (Rs. 50.7 lakh) for the 70kWh model, 506,000 yuan (Rs. 57.3 lakh) for the 100kWh version, and 526,000 yuan (Rs. 59.6 lakh) for the Premier edition (100kWh) NIO is also offering the EV with a "Battery as a service" option at prices starting at 378,000 yuan (Rs. 42.8 lakh) as a one-time payment and 980 yuan (Rs. 11,100) monthly fee.
