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Nio has ambitiously set its sights on the Chinese executive sedan market dominated by foreign giants like Mercedes-Benz Maybach, unveiling the ET9 at Nio Day 2023 in Xi’an, Shaanxi province. Priced at RMB 800,000 (approximately £90,700) and slated for Q1 2025 deliveries, the ET9 flaunts arguably some of the best tech on the market.
Nio founder, chairman, and CEO William Li highlighted the ET9’s technological advancements during the launch, positioning the vehicle as a technology leader in the executive flagship segment – an arena where Chinese carmakers have struggled so far to make a mark.
The ET9 boasts cutting-edge features resulting from Nio’s significant investments in research and development. Its crown jewel is Nio’s own 5nm process-based Shenji autonomous driving chip, which aims to replace four Nvidia Drive Orin chips, the current standard in Nio’s NT 2.0-based models.
Powered by a 120 kWh battery pack with a single cell energy density of 292 Wh/kg, the ET9 supports 5C fast charging, promising a range of 158 miles on a five-minute charge – a huge feat in the rapidly evolving EV landscape. However, Li admitted that, despite its industry-leading charging speed, the ET9 can’t match the efficiency of Nio’s famed battery swap system.
The dimensions of the ET9 align with Chinese market preferences for premium models. Stretching 209.6 inches in length, 79.4 inches in width, and 63.8 inches in height, with a wheelbase of 128 inches, it dwarfs previous flagship of the brand, the ET7.
The ET9 introduces steer-by-wire technology, a pivotal component for high-level autonomous driving and innovative cockpit designs. Collaborating with German tech giant ZF Group, Nio seems to leverage ZF’s technology, further enhancing the vehicle’s maneuverability with rear-wheel steering.
A standout feature showcased by Li is the intelligent suspension system, courtesy of Nio Capital-backed ClearMotion. This system, designed for optimal comfort, integrates dampers with an electro-hydraulic pump for quick height adjustments, as demonstrated by an ET9 gliding over a row of speed bumps without disturbing a tower of champagne glasses set on its hood.
Despite the ET9 going on sale in about 12 months, the preorders are already open. With a deposit of RMB 5,000, Chinese customers can reserve the ET9, enjoying a RMB 5,000 discount and 100 hours of exclusive chauffeur service absolutely free of charge. There’s no question this is by far the most ambitious vehicle from Nio and it certainly comes with a price tag matching those lofty goals. It has plenty of clever tech to make even the most revered luxury brands blush. But does it have enough brand clout to pull this off?
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