(Commonwealth) _ Nio is set to challenge Mercedes-Benz’s upscale Maybach brand with its forthcoming flagship coupe-crossover, the ET9, slated for release in 2025. CEO William Li envisions the dual-motor, four-wheel-drive vehicle as a technological marvel showcasing Nio’s electric platform and drivetrain. It’s designed to establish new benchmarks in efficiency, luxury, space, and safety for electric cars in production. Expected to debut in early 2025 in its native market, the ET9 comes with a price tag of RMB800,000 (£88,800), marking Nio’s most advanced and expensive model to date. It’s also the brand’s largest, boasting dimensions exceeding those of the 2022-launched Nio ET7 saloon by over 199mm in length, 29mm in width, and 115mm in height. Built on Nio’s latest ET3 electric car platform, the ET9 flaunts an exceptionally lengthy wheelbase of 3250mm, a notable 190mm longer than that of the ET7 saloon. During the unveiling at Nio’s annual event in Xi’an, China, Li drew comparisons to luxury stalwarts like the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, Audi A8, BMW 7-Series, and Porsche Panamera, hinting at the competitive landscape the ET9 aims to disrupt. Li coined the term “landjet” for the ET9, reminiscent of Audi’s futuristic electric concept from 2020. This innovative model merges the design cues of a traditional saloon with the features of a modern SUV, riding on wheels as large as 23 inches in diameter and offering up to 200mm of ground clearance.
The ET9, a daring crossover, boasts a luxurious interior catering to four occupants in a two-plus-two arrangement. Specially crafted rear seats offer 18-way electric adjustments, including a reclining function for a seat back angle as low as 45 degrees. Complementing this setup are 14.5-inch OLED screens affixed to the rear of the front seats. Dividing the cabin is the “executive bridge,” featuring fold-out tables and a 10-litre mini refrigerator for the rear passengers, alongside up to seven electric sunshades. At its core lies a newly engineered 900-volt electric architecture coupled with a proprietary 1200v silicon carbide (SIC) power module. This setup facilitates charging at speeds of up to 600kW, enabling a remarkable 159-mile recharge in just 5 minutes, according to Nio. The transition to this architecture has allowed Nio to downsize and lighten the electric motors and wiring harness compared to the previous 800-volt system utilized in the ET7. Among the technological advancements integrated into this crossover is Nio’s new NX9031 AD chip set, a 5 nm, 32-core automotive-grade processor with over 50 billion transistors. Claimed to process over 6 trillion commands per second at speeds 75 percent faster than the automotive industry average, this chipset enables simultaneous processing for sensing, computing, planning, and control.
Powering the ET9 are two newly developed electric motors, including what Nio touts as the world’s first 925-volt W-Pin motor. This rear-mounted motor, capable of operating at up to 20,000rpm, delivers up to 340kW of power. Additionally, the front houses an induction motor with a power density of up to 2.6kW/kg and a peak output of 180kW.
The vehicle draws electric energy from a swappable 120kW lithium-ion battery utilizing Nio’s new 46105 cylindrical cells, boasting a cell energy density of 292Wh/kg. The ET9 is fully compatible with Nio’s fourth-generation Power Charger and Power Swap Station, allowing for rapid battery swaps and claiming support for up to 23 batteries and a maximum of 480 swaps per day, operating 22 percent faster than existing stations. Technological advancements extend to the newly developed chassis, which operates entirely by-wire. Electronic control manages the throttle, gear shift, steering, suspension, and brakes instead of mechanical systems. The ET9’s fully active SkyRide suspension system is claimed to surpass the third-generation Porsche Panamera, offering individual wheel control, up to 220mm of wheel travel, and four-wheel steering.
