car news

Dimensions NIO EL8

With a length of 5,099 mm, a height of 1,750 mm, a width of 2,199 mm and a large wheelbase of 3,070 mm, the EL8 can accommodate six people. Two versions are available, each with its own layout for the second row of seats. The first has a pass-through between the 14-way adjustable individual seats and a wide armrest. The Executive trim has a smart refrigerator and a center console between the 12-way adjustable Ottoman seats in the second row of seats. The Executive trim also offers a standard Hot Stone Massage feature on the first and second rows of seats.

Long Range or Standard Range

The EL8’s all-wheel drive system uses a 180 kW permanent magnet SiC motor and a 300 kW induction motor. The model also features the world’s first dual three-phase topology inverter to improve performance and reliability. Torque is 850 Nm, and acceleration from 100 km/h takes just 4.1 seconds. The interchangeable Long Range battery (100 kWh) offers a range of 510 km according to the WLTP cycle. A Standard Range battery (75 kWh) is also available. 

Smart Safety System

The car features a Smart Safety System. Depending on the position of the occupants and the severity of the collision, the Smart Safety System adjusts the timing of the airbag and the maximum tensioning force of the seat belt to better protect the occupants. This system is complemented by seven airbags, including a 2,800 mm curtain airbag on the sides of the interior that also protects rear occupants. The EL8 also has an airbag between the front seats. NIO is the only brand to offer this as standard across its entire European model range. The battery of the EL8 has been tested for temperatures up to 590°C for 130 seconds, a drop test from a height of one meter and the possible ingress of water during immersion in salt water.

Wheels and brakes

The EL8 comes standard on 20-inch rims, and 21- and 22-inch ones are available at extra cost. The EL8’s braking system features six-piston front calipers and Bosch’s Intelligent Park Brake (IPB) system for extra precise control. The system generates maximum braking force within just 150 milliseconds. The response times of the traction control system have also been further improved and reduced from 100 to 10 milliseconds.

Smart lighting

The EL8’s headlights are both smart and safe. New, intelligent multi-beam adaptive matrix LED headlights – controlled by NIO’s built-in supercomputer ADAM – work together with LiDAR technology for instant response to best illuminate the road ahead. Independently controlled micron LEDs can bend the light around curves, so to speak, and thus react to oncoming traffic, preventing blinding of other road users and thus possible irritation in traffic. 

Also, ISOFIX

For maximum protection for all family members, the EL8 is equipped with Child Presence Detection (CPD). This system not only alerts if a child or pet is left in the car, but also provides anti-collision protection when opening the tailgate and smart window and door locking. The EL8 is equipped with four ISOFIX attachments, so even larger families can use this model. A specific pet mode keeps the interior temperature at 22°C and disables certain functions so animals can rest safely. A towing capacity of 2,000 kg and camping mode make the EL8 an attractive car for weekend family trips.

Nice and sustainable

Sustainability was another important factor in developing the EL8. The interior of the EL8 is finished with durable rattan, soybean foam seat cushions and OEKO-TEX certified Haptex interior material for the seats and door trim. The headliner of the EL8 is made of the world’s first vegetable-based woven suede, using sugarcane and castor oil.

Suspension

Fully in line with its market positioning, the EL8 offers maximum sophistication and comfort. The basis for this is a chassis with Dual Chamber air suspension and Continuous Damping Control (CDC), which constantly adjusts the damping forces of the shock absorbers in real time. By monitoring road conditions, driving speed and driver input and adjusting the adjustment accordingly, CDC ensures optimal driving comfort with reduced vibration. Dual Chamber damping reduces the car’s diving motion by 25 percent during acceleration and by 40 percent during braking. NIO’s Hydraulic Rebound Stop (HRS) provides progressive damping and offers a soothing ride comfort. HRS offers the added benefit of protecting suspension components by absorbing and dissipating the energy caused by potholes and driving on poor road surfaces.

Luxury in the car

With laminated glass and more than fifty other acoustic features, including noise-reducing tires and the Intelligent Smooth Stop (ISS) feature that minimizes inertia to counteract the “diving effect” during braking, the EL8 truly offers optimum travel comfort. The interior utilizes NIO’s second living room concept with the use of warm, sleek-looking and more durable materials and high technology to enhance the user experience. The 22-way adjustable seats, which can be upgraded via Over-the-Air updates (FOTA), offer zero gravity function, zone heating and ventilation, yet are 25 percent lighter thanks to the use of a new seat frame. The Executive trim adds Hot Stone Massage on the first two rows of seats, which has a calming and invigorating effect. A power leg rest for passengers and shoulder adjustment over a maximum distance of 15 cm for the driver ensure that everyone sits comfortably, no matter how far you travel. The EL8 offers one meter of distance between the seat cushion and the roof and a width of more than 1.5 meters, providing the best interior space in its segment. The luggage space is spacious enough for even the most active family. At the push of a button, the third-row seats fold down electronically to provide 810 liters of luggage space, enough for two golf bags or four 28-inch suitcases.

With perfume diffuser

The interior atmosphere is further enhanced by NIO’s perfuming system. In the EL8, the fragrance “Forest” debuts, a new sensory experience that brings the lasting freshness of the forest to the car. The senses are further stimulated by ambient waterfall lighting with 174 LEDs and the 2,300 W surround sound audio system with 23 speakers and 7.1.4 amplification. The system features Dirac Pro and Dolby Atmos technology for richer, more balanced and dynamic sound. 

Computing power

Like all other NIOs, the EL8 offers a connected and intuitive riding experience that gives the user a sense of maximum control. NIO’s intelligent Banyan system is a true digital powerhouse that enables smart features and constantly refreshes its rich content features with Over-the-Air (OTA) updates. If “ADAM” – the most powerful, mass-produced mobile computing platform to date with a computing power of 1,016 TOPS – is the brain of every NIO, Aquila is the eye, responsible for obtaining a wealth of useful and reassuring driving information. Using NIO’s full-stack technology algorithms, the Aquila system processes data from 33 cameras and sensors to provide a complete picture of the dynamic environment around the car. The EL8 also features the furthest detecting LiDAR system in mass production in the automotive industry. The 1,550 nm LiDAR has a maximum detection distance of 500 meters, equivalent to the length of five soccer fields. The EL8’s 8 MP high-resolution cameras “see” further, capture more detail and detect vehicles at 680 meters away, pedestrians at 220 meters away and traffic objects such as cones at 160 meters away.

With videos

The Emergency Video feature of the EL8 is automatically activated by events such as deployed airbags and captures potentially very important footage in the event of a collision. One-Click Video Recording allows manual recording of traffic violations, where the Accident Victimization Assistant can capture important evidence. All EL8s come with a 16.3-inch HUD system – another first for NIO – in addition to a 12.8-inch AMOLED screen in the center console and a 6.6-inch screen for the rear compartment. The EL8 features NIO’s well-known virtual assistant NOMI Halo with an updated and refined NOMI Mate available as an option on both versions.

Options and colors

The NIO EL8 is available in five exterior finishes and three interior finishes. Options include 21-inch or forged 22-inch wheels, a tow bar and, for the version with passage between the seats, the Premium Comfort Package with Hot Stone Massage function on the first and second rows of seats, ventilated seats on the second row of seats and heated seats on the third row of seats. The new EL8 will be available for order starting June 13, 2024. Prices start at 78,900 for the Launch Edition with BaaS. This edition is available until Sept. 30, 2024.