NIO ES9 Delivers Flagship Size and Refinement in China’s Electric SUV Market

Display vehicles for NIO’s new ES9 electric SUV have arrived in showrooms around China, ahead of tomorrow’s tech showcase. The ES9 measures 211 inches long and has a wheelbase of 128 inches, making it somewhat larger than the ES8, and currently the largest pure electric SUV available in the country.

The ES9’s front end takes a bit of a sharp-headed shark approach, swinging into some split headlights that can project some beautiful patterns in the form of welcome lights. Wide angle LiDAR devices are tucked away in the fenders, along with some extra lighting components, as well as a roof-mounted unit that works with cameras and radar to provide data into NIO’s next-generation support system. The wheels, which range from 21 to 23 inches depending on the trim, help to create a silhouette that appears to be supposed to be there – planted and premium from almost every aspect.

Power is sent to all four wheels via a dual motor system. The front unit produces 241 horsepower, while the rear motor produces 456 horsepower, totaling 697 horsepower and 700 Newton meters of torque. Engineers designed the entire system around a 900volt architecture to get the energy out rapidly and sustain rather fast charging speeds, much exceeding what most people are used to on a regular basis.

The ES9 gets a a 102 kilowatt-hour battery from CATL, which uses the ternary lithium chemistry that NIO prefers. The Chinese cycle has a range of up to 385 miles with the most efficient arrangement, while other models do not perform as well. However, one feature shared by all variations is the incorporation of NIO’s battery swapping network, which allows you to replace the pack in minutes rather than waiting for a full charge.

Inside, the ES9’s cabin is divided into two 2+2+2 configurations, with capacity and comfort for six adults as primary priorities. Nappa leather covers every surface, and real wood trim and embroidered details give it a warm, cozy feel. A wraparound dashboard design then houses the true star of the show, a crisp 15.6-inch AMOLED floating screen that runs NIO’s SkyOS interface and sits beside the NOMI Mate 3.0 voice assistant sitting on top. Second row passengers perform particularly well and benefit from the ES9’s 128-inch wheelbase, with higher trims receiving zero gravity seats that recline rather deeply and have all of the frills such as heating, ventilation, massage, and memory features. Then there’s electrochromic glass, which allows you to turn a switch and the rear windows go from clear to tinted in seconds. Add two 14.5-inch entertainment displays and a dedicated 8-inch control screen, and you have a car that will keep passengers happy in the back seat. There’s also a built-in fridge to keep your drinks cool without the need to stop anywhere, as well as a split panoramic roof that lets in plenty of natural light.

Technology does not stop with the touchscreens and seats. How it all works together, in this example the steer by wire technology and the SkyRide chassis, has a significant impact on your driving experience, providing precise handling and a comfortable ride even in a large vehicle like this one. The Shenji NX9031 chip powers it all, combining data from several lidar sensors and 4D radar to make driving feel rock solid regardless of the weather. And if you’ve seen the films of the car being flung around on snow-covered trails and then surviving a high-speed blowout at -30 degrees Celsius with barely a glitch, you know what I’m talking about.

On April 9th, we’ll find out what price the ES9 starts at, which is rumored to be around 500,000 yuan ($73,200). That puts it just below the price of NIO’s top-of-the-line ET9 sedan, but with a lot more room to spread out in and plenty of comforts thrown in, and you’ll be able to get your hands on one just a few months later, in late May. If you are lucky enough to be one of the first in line, you will receive your new ES9 Horizon Edition around a week later.