The NIO ET7 has debuted and this flagship sedan clearly has Tesla in its crosshairs. With nearly the same dimensions as the Model S and other standard-wheelbase full-size sedans, the NIO ET7 will be offered with a full range of cool features including semi-autonomous driving technologies. There’s a whole array of sensors, Lidar, and radar are mounted all over the vehicle to allow some degree of self-driving capability.
Three battery sizes will be available on the NIO ET7. The base 70-kWh unit is good for 500 km or 310 miles on a charge in the NEDC cycle. A 100-kWh battery increases the total range to 700 km or around 435 miles. If that’s not enough, there’s also a 150-kWh solid-state battery coming in 2022 that’s rated for 1,000 km or 621 miles per charge. The most powerful variant is a dual-motor version rated for 643 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque. That allows the NIO ET7 to accelerate to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 3.9 seconds. Other performance features include an air suspension and adaptive dampers that can use navigation data to anticipate bumps, turns, and changes in road conditions.
Step inside the NIO ET7’s cabin and you’ll find a modern, minimalist interior dominated by two displays. The main display is a 12.8-inch AMOLED unit powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor specifically developed for automotive applications. Other cool touches include renewable rattan trim, a digital gauge cluster, heated, ventilated, and massaging seats all around, and a 23-speaker, 1,000-watt audio system.
There’s no word on whether the NIO ET7 will come to the U.S. NIO did say that the car was engineered to meet crash safety requirements in Europe and China. Extensive use of ultra-high-strength steel and aluminum maximize structural rigidity, which should help it pass more stringent requirements in North America. Prices start from 448,000 Yuan for the 70-kWh battery to 506,000 Yuan for an ET7 with the 100-kWh battery. That’s roughly $69,000 to $78,000 in today’s rates. There’s also a Premier Edition that costs 526,000 Yuan or around $81,000.
