Another NIO. But not the same
The Nio EC6 is an all-electric all-wheel-drive SUV with a coupe silhouette, the third electric car from the ambitious Chinese startup NIO, which went into series production at the end of 2019.
Chinese automakers are cunning and pragmatic. They release a certain car model, after which they introduce exactly the same model with minimal cosmetic changes and call it a new model, describing it as unique, unparalleled, exclusive, stunning, divine and so on. Well, the EC6 is not like that. It is only 90% similar to the ES6, and, overall, it is a completely different electric car! Really! Below are some details about the new Chinese SUV.
Exterior
Like the ES6, the 2020/2021 Nio EC6 has an aggressive, sporty design, a cross between the Lamborghini Urus and the Hyundai Kona, featuring a sloping roof, narrow LEDs, long hood and more. The coupe is 4.8 m, 1.9 m wide and 1.75 m high, with a wheelbase of 1.9 m, offering a ground clearance of 17 cm, the roof area of 2 sq. meters, an aerodynamic coefficient of 0.27 and the weight of 2 tons.
Interior
In terms of the interior design, the new Nio EC6 has approximately the same approach as in the ES6 (and in most electric vehicles): two monitors, a minimum of physical buttons, controls on the central monitor, and additional functions on the display behind the steering wheel.
The car features the sporty seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel and the Nomi car assistant. The EC6 has a trunk volume (with the rear seats folded down) of 1.4 cubic meters.
According to NIO, the EC6 CFRP body structure provides the highest torsional rigidity of any SUV in the same segment. Nothing is known about the safety of the EC6 design, as no tests have been carried out. The range of options is the same as the ES6, including: 360 degree panoramic camera, anti-lock braking system, automatic emergency braking, automatic parking, anti-rollover system, body stabilization system, a complete set of airbags and curtains.
Powertrain
One of the few differences between the ES6 and the EC6 is that the ES6’s largest battery is the 84 kWh unit, which provides a maximum driving range of 510 km, while the new Nio EC6 is equipped with an all-new 100 kWh NIO liquid-cooled battery, which, according to NIO, provides a driving range of up to 615 kilometers.
The battery powers the powertrain consisting of two motors (permanent magnet + induction motor or two electric motors with permanent magnets) with a total power of up to 536 hp. The advanced version of the coupe-crossover develops 100 km/h in an impressive 4.7 seconds, while the entry-level version does it in 5.7 seconds.
Summary
…It is difficult to say why NIO produces two nearly identical electric vehicles, presenting them as different models. This is probably another powerful Chinese trick, which we do not understand, but it is better to accept as a divine gift from the celestials of the Middle Empire to the barbarians. Otherwise they will release the third one…
