Nio presents ET5 Touring in China and Europe

The Chinese electric car manufacturer Nio has presented the ET5 Touring, the estate version of its ET5 electric sedan. The ET5 Touring was presented in China and Europe at the same time. The second new Nio model for Europe is the mid-size SUV EL6.

Registrations for both models in Europe are now open, and the official order launch will take place on 1 August this year. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2023. In Germany, the ET5 Touring with a 75-kWh battery starts from 59,500 euros and with a 100-kWh battery from 68,500 euros. If the battery is rented, the basic purchase price drops by 12,000 euros (21,000 euros for the 100-kWh battery).

The EL6 is to be sold in Germany for prices starting at 65,500 euros (75 kWh) or 74,500 euros (100 kWh). Here, too, the purchase price is reduced by 12,000 or 21,000 euros if the battery is rented. Both models will be launched in Europe in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

The technical data sheets for the two vehicles were provided in tandem with the European presentation in Munich. The EL6 mid-size SUV measures 4,854 × 2,212 × 1,703 mm with a wheelbase of 2,915 mm. In China, the model is marketed under the designation ES6. The unladen weight, including the battery, is around 2.3 tonnes, according to the manufacturer. The EL6 combines the two battery options mentioned above (75 or 100 kWh) with a two-motor drive with up to 360 kW of power and a peak torque of 700 Nm. Nio specifies the acceleration as 0 to 100 km/h at 4.5 seconds, the drag coefficient at 0.25 cW and the WLTP range at 529 kilometres.

The EL6 also has a boot capacity of 597 or 1,430 litres with the rear seats folded down. The towing capacity is 1.2 tonnes, and the roof payload capacity is 75 kg.

As Nio wants to position itself as a premium brand, the model also comes with all kinds of equipment extras, IT and connectivity features. These include a panoramic glass roof, intelligent air suspension, built-in hardware for assisted driving (Nio talks of 33 high-performance sensor units, including ultra-long-range, high-resolution LiDAR), the operating system called Banyan from Nio’s current platform, as well as a heads-up display and intelligent headlights (“Adaptive Driving Beam”).

The ET5 Touring, also newly launched in Europe, follows just a few weeks after the ET5 Sedan in Germany. The latter made its debut in Germany at the end of April. The Touring version measures 4,790 × 2,178 × 1,499 mm with a wheelbase of 2,888 mm. Nio puts the kerb weight at around 2.2 tonnes. The powertrain is the same as the EL6 just described, with the two familiar battery options and all-wheel drive with a system output of 360 kW. The drag coefficient is also identical at 0.25 cW.

There are differences in the performance of these electric cars: the Touring accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds, and the WLTP range is 560 kilometres. Boot size is 450 or 1,300 litres, towing capacity is 1.4 tonnes, and roof payload capacity is 75 kg.

The aforementioned intelligent air suspension and assisted driving hardware are also used in the ET5 Touring, along with other equipment features. In addition, Nio mentions as special features an “especially large panoramic glass roof with an area for incident daylight of 1.35 square metres” and “unrivalled legroom of 895 mm in the rear”.

Nio says that its NIO ET5 Touring was developed in Europe specifically for the needs of the European market. The carmaker points out that it is not only the first estate car within the Nio product family but also the first fully electric estate car in the premium segment. “With this elegant and versatile model, we particularly want to address the needs of NIO users who demand additional flexibility paired with sportiness and comfort, as well as functionality and the large amount of space. The NIO EL6 is a true pioneer among smart electric all-round SUVs and ranks among the mid-sized SUVs with high performance, intelligent technology and excellent space. It is ideal for family-oriented needs and high comfort,” said Ralph Kranz, General Manager of Nio Germany, in Munich.

Although Nio has not specified charging times for either the EL6 or ET5 Touring, they are likely to be the same as for the ET5: With the LFP battery with 75 kWh, the battery should be able to be charged from ten to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes. With the large NMC battery, the same charging stroke takes 40 minutes. Alternatively, the battery can be changed in a few minutes at appropriate exchange stations, as our test with the ET5 showed. However, the battery exchange can only be used by customers who opt for battery rental.

In addition to the above-mentioned price option starting at 59,500 euros (with battery), the Touring can also be purchased in a subscription model for 1,119 euros (incl. 75-kWh battery, 36-month term). The EL6 will also be available by subscription, but Nio has not specified a rate.

The official launch of the two vehicles brings the number of Nio models available in Germany to five: The large sedan ET7 was the first model to start deliveries in Germany last year. Since the beginning of February, the first examples of the EL7 have also arrived at European customers. Shortly after the opening of the Nio House in Frankfurt, several examples of the ET5 sedan were handed over to customers there at the end of March.

reporting by Cora Werwitzke
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