- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He
Nio ES8. The second generation is better than the first
The Chinese start-up NIO strides into the future, lives and grows, becoming a serious manufacturer: there are already 7 models in the lineup, and some got the second generation instead of restyling. In late 2022, the automaker released the second-generation Nio ES8, a full-size electric SUV that is produced in China since summer 2018 and delivered to Europe from September 2021. NIO’s flagship model features a 3-row interior, an original appearance and a set of intelligent systems called Nio Pilot for autonomous driving. During the presentation of the second generation, the head of the company, Li Bin, joked: “Someone asked me when we are going to launch a minivan, but I can say that it is much better than a minivan!” And if we said about the first generation that it was cheaper than Tesla, we are ready to say that the second generation is significantly cooler than the first! Deliveries of the new Nio ES8 in China are scheduled for June 2023.
The cost of the Nio ES8 in China starts from 67,000 dollars, competing with the Tesla Model X with the base price of 94,990 dollars.
Exterior
The new second-generation Nio ES8 is even larger than its predecessor: it is 5,099 mm long (77 mm longer), 1,989 mm wide (27 mm) wider, 1,750 mm high (6 mm shorter). The wheelbase is now 3,070 mm (that of the first generation SUV is 3,010 mm). The body has become more aerodynamic with the Cd coefficient of 0.25. The wheels have a diameter ranging from 20 to 22 inches.
Interior and equipment
The 2023 Nio ES8 is exclusively 6-seater, with all of its seats being separate. Moreover, not only the front seats, but also the second row seats are electric, heated, ventilated and massage. The third row has only electric backrests. The driver has a 10.2-inch digital dashboard. The multimedia system has received a 12.8-inch screen, above which there is a voice assistant, embodied in the form of a spherical toy. As a reminder, the ES8 is the first production car in the world equipped with the NOMI AI multimedia system. It looks like a toy showing off on the front panel, and is a companion that gives the driver various tips and entertains passengers along the way.
There’s also a head-up display, as well as the PanoCinema system, which consists of four pairs of virtual reality glasses and a 1,000-watt sound system that transforms the passenger compartment into an immersive cinema through 23 speakers. The interior is minimalist and elegant. It is trimmed with Nappa leather, wood veneer inserts. The equipment includes a panoramic roof, matrix headlights, as well as lidar and cameras that ensure the operation of the NAD autopilot. It has 33 sensors and a powerful computer, in the future the company promises a level 3 autopilot.
Powertrains
The SUV has the only all-wheel-drive version with two electric motors. A front motor produces 245 hp and a rear motor produces 408 hp, their total power reaches 653 hp and 850 Nm. There are two 75 kWh batteries, which ensure a range of 465 km and 100 kWh with autonomy on the CLTC cycle of 605 km. As for the dynamics, the electric vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds.
The second generation Nio ES8 is based on the updated NT2 platform, also second generation. It featured more modern and advanced electronics. The suspension of the SUV is double-lever in the front and multi-link in the rear, equipped with pneumatic elements and adaptive shock absorbers. This solution allows you to vary the ground clearance in the range of 90 mm.
