New Nio ES6 Gen 2 with 482bhp and updated platform coming to UK

Nio Launches EL6: A Comprehensive Reworking of Its Best-Selling Model

Nio, the Chinese premium EV brand, has launched the EL6 as a successor to the ES6, which is expected to form part of the brand’s line-up when it comes to the UK next year. The EL6 is a comprehensive reworking of the ES6, including a switch to a new platform. While the ES6 shared its core architecture with the larger ES8, the EL6 uses the same steel platform as the ET5 saloon and today-launched ET5 Touring estate. As a result, it has a slightly stretched wheelbase and sits around 50mm lower. Overall, it measures 4854mm long (with a wheelbase of 2915mm), 1995mm wide and 1703mm tall.

Design and Interior

Much of the focus for the EL6 was on revising Nio’s design language and upgrading the interior quality and feel of the car. Kris Tomasson, Nio’s vice-president of design, described it as a “more evolved product” that featured styling that was “a hybrid of SUV and saloon language”. Styling changes include a new version of Nio’s split headlight design and a more rakish, coupé-esque rear roofline. There has also been a major focus on improving the equipment levels inside the car, and a fresh design is intended to offer greater interior space.

As standard, the 20-way adjustable seats have nine layers of supporting materials while the optional 22-way adjustment includes a “zero-gravity” position which reclines the ventilated, massaging seats by 160deg. Nio also said the EL6’s openable sunroof is the largest in its class, at around one square metre. The new car also offers 668 litres of boot space, making it more spacious than both the Audi Q4 E-tron and the Ford Mustang Mach-E. After the 40/20/40-split folding rear seats are lowered, storage space is increased to 1430 litres.

Performance and Features

As standard, the EL6 features a four-wheel drive system with a 201bhp front motor and 282bhp rear-mounted motor, as on the ET5 Touring. Total power output is 482bhp (47bhp more than on the ES6) and torque stands at 516lb ft, allowing a 0-62mph time of 4.5sec. The EL6 features continuous damping control to ensure a stable ride and, like the ET5, will be offered in China with a high level of autonomous driving hardware. Drivers will be offered a choice between nine driving modes, and Nio’s automatically adjusting braking system, Intelligent Smooth Stop (ISS), makes its debut on this model.

The EL6 continues to use Nio’s 70kWh battery, giving it an official range of just over 300 miles. It’s compatible with Nio’s battery-swap stations, which can take out an empty battery and fit a fully charged new one in less than five minutes.

Expansion Plans

Nio has now expanded into Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, offering the ET5 and ET7 saloons and the EL7, a larger SUV. It’s currently putting the finishing touches to its UK expansion plans, with a new country manager in place. It will come here next year with right-hand-drive cars and is planning to build battery-swap facilities.

Conclusion

The EL6 is a major overhaul of Nio’s best-selling model, the ES6. It features a new platform, revised design language, upgraded interior quality and feel, and improved equipment levels. As standard, it features a four-wheel drive system with a 201bhp front motor and 282bhp rear-mounted motor, and a 70kWh battery giving it an official range of just over 300 miles. It’s compatible with Nio’s battery-swap stations, which can take out an empty battery and fit a fully charged new one in less than five minutes. Nio is expected to launch the EL6 in the UK next year, with right-hand-drive cars and battery-swap facilities.

Latest articles