The NIO EC6 challenges the Tesla Model X

NIO officially launched in China the marketing of its brand new EC6, a coupe SUV that can easily be imagined to take on the Tesla Model X.

Length of 4,849 mm, width of 1,995 mm, and height of 1,697 mm with a wheelbase of 2,915 mm, the all-new EC6 is a sizable coupe SUV, closer to the Tesla Model X than the Model Y. Despite these generous dimensions, its line is very elegant, softened by its Fastback profile. The announced Cx of 0.24 reflects the care taken by the designers to ensure fluid lines.

The front optics, characterized by a “double dash” design, are simplified to their core with two small commas on each side, complemented by two round blocks positioned low. At the rear, the narrow light strip extending beyond the tailgate to the rear fenders bears a striking resemblance to Porsche’s signature lighting. A compliment in its current form.

The EC6 features an active spoiler reminiscent of the Model X, measuring 1,353 mm in length and 196 mm wide. It can deploy automatically or manually to reduce drag and improve stability. When the car exceeds 80 km/h, the spoiler deploys at a 23-degree angle for reduced drag. Beyond 170 km/h, the wing tilts to 31.5 degrees, providing extra downforce to ensure maneuverability and stability.

The EC6 is available in nine exterior colors, including a Lavender AR shade inspired by the virtual sky in augmented reality… Okay, we’ll take it because it’s quite pretty. We’ll skip the list of interior features, as everything is included, from the panoramic roof, adjustable, heated, and massaging seats, to a refined sound system. Back seat passengers can benefit from an interesting option “NIO Air AR”, which allows connecting a computer or console to the onboard systems to view the content using special augmented reality glasses. The windshield then transforms into a 210-inch LED screen placed 6 meters from the user.

Luxury high-end coupe

The rear trunk has a capacity of 594 liters, which can be increased to 1,402 liters with the second-row seats folded down. For a vehicle of this size, that’s somewhat disappointing, but with the Fastback profile, we didn’t expect much more.

Under the hood, there’s NIO’s four-wheel-drive system with two motors. An induction motor at 150 kW at the front and a permanent magnet motor at 210 kW at the rear, totaling 360 kW and 700 Nm of torque. The 0-100 km/h acceleration is achieved in just 4.4 seconds.

The NIO EC6 is available at an entry price of 358,000 RMB, or about €46,000, with a 75 kWh battery, or at 416,000 RMB, or approximately €53,500, with a 100 kWh battery. These are very attractive prices for such specifications and are well aligned with those of Tesla Model X, but will likely increase significantly if marketed in Europe. Since NIO already struggles to establish itself here, it is sincerely unlikely that the EC6 will arrive soon, but who knows…