Shanghai-based EV maker NIO has unveiled its flagship sedan called ‘ET7’ at recently held NIO Day in Chengdu (China). The fastback sedan carries a pre-subsidy starting price tag of RMB 448,000 (US$ 69,090) or RMB 378,000 (US$ 58,295) with BaaS (Battery as a Service). The ET7 is the brand’s first autonomous driving model.
The ET7 is also the first model among the ET Series of vehicles NIO is planning. The vehicle looks stunning from all angles and most of the styling comes from the ET Preview concept we saw in 2019. However, the taillight, especially the upswept design at each end might remind you of BMWs. The ET7 measures 5,098 mm long, 1,987 mm wide and 1,505 mm high. It boasts a wheelbase of 3,060 mm. The drag coefficient is claimed to be 0.23 Cd.
Notice the sensor modules/protrusions on the roof for autonomous driving. Speaking of which, the vehicle according to NIO, features 33 high-performance sensing units, including 11 8-megapixel high-resolution cameras, one ultralong-range high-resolution LiDAR, five millimeter-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, two high-precision positioning units, V2X and ADMS. The SoCs come from NVIDIA; the ET7 features four NVIDIA DRIVE Orin chips.
The sensors also help with detecting road conditions in advance to actively adjust the suspension for a comfy ride.
The cabin has a minimalistic design, but thankfully, offers an additional display for the driver. Notice the ‘NOMI’ AI assistant that debuted with the ES8 SUV in 2018. It has been updated with voice recognition and accurate sound localization. As for materials used, the ET7 features ‘Karuun’ — a renewable rattan, claimed to be the first application on a production model. Nappa leather upholstery and microfiber headliner come standard. Other features include a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.8-inch AMOLED central display, 23-speaker audio system, 64-color ambient lighting, and heated and ventilated seats with massage function.
As for safety, NIO claims that the ET7 is designed to meet both China and Euro NCAP five-star safety standards.
As for the technical stuff, the ET7 has two electric motors — a 180 kW (245 metric hp) permanent magnet motor at the front and a 300 kW (408 metric hp) induction motor at the rear. Combined max power is rated at 480 kW (653 metric hp) with peak torque at 850 Nm (627 lb-ft). The EV is claimed to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.9 seconds, and a braking distance of 33.5 m from 100 km/h.
As for battery packs, there are three options: 70 kWh, 100 kWh and 150 kWh, with claimed NEDC ranges of up to 500 km (310 mi), 700 km (434 mi) and 1,000 km (621 mi), respectively.
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