- The all-electric SUV will be offered with 75 kWh and 100 kWh battery packs.
- A pair of electric motors combine to produce 643 hp and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm).
- Prices start at €82,900 (~$88,700) in Germany.
The European market will soon have another electric SUV on offer, this time brought to life by Chinese car manufacturer Nio and badged the EL8. It’s big, it’s powerful, and it will also be quite expensive.
Designed to rival the likes of the BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, the EL8 is fitted as standard with a 75 kWh battery pack that gives it 288 miles (463 km) of range on the WLTP cycle. Those wanting to do road trips across Europe would be wise to opt for the larger 100 kWh battery as it provides 316 miles (508 km) of range.
Read: Nio Signs Partnership With FAW For Battery Swapping And Charging
All EL8 models rock the same dual electric motor setup. This consists of a 241 hp motor at the front axle and a 402 hp one at the rear axle, combining to deliver 643 hp and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm) of torque. The luxurious SUV can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.1 seconds, an impressive time when you consider it’s 5,099 mm (200.7 inches) long, 1,750 mm (69.8 inches) wide, and stands 2,199 mm (86.5 inches) tall. Nio hasn’t said how much it weighs but it should be quite heavy.
Nio will only sell the EL8 in Europe with six seats. There are plenty of eco-friendly materials found throughout the cabin, including foam cushions made with soybean and a plant-based woven suede headliner. Nio has also installed a 23-speaker, 2000-watt surround sound system, ambient lighting, and laminated glass.
Shoppers can order the EL8 with 14-way adjustable seats in the second row with an armrest or can opt for the Executive Console which adds a fridge and a console. Like most new EVs hitting the market, the EL8 is laden with screens, including a 12.8-inch infotainment display up front, a digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and a 6.6-inch display at the rear.
Interestingly, the Nio EL8 is not an all-new product. The car has been on sale in China for over a year but is known as the ES8. Like the Chinese model, the one to be sold in Europe features 33 high-performance sensors, including a LiDAR, to provide advanced self-driving capabilities.
Nio will sell the EL8 from €82,900 (~$88,700) in Germany and it will also be available in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands, although prices for these markets haven’t been announced at this stage.
