China has released a new challenger to the Range Rover, that is set to sell for around £60,000 less. The all-new Nio ES8 has opened for pre-orders with a facelift on the original ES8, which hit the roads back in 2018.
Nio claims its new electric car is set to “redefine luxury”, with a range of upgrades including a new 900-volt architecture. The new ES8 is 7 inches longer than the old model, making it even larger than the Range Rover Electric. Nio’s premium SUV is set to hit the Chinese market for 416,800 Yuan. Based on current exchange rates, the Nio is available for just £43,700 or £58,000.
The upfront cost is a whopping £60,000 cheaper than the new Electric Range Rover, which has a price tag of around £105,000.
However, motorists can also secure even cheaper rates under NIO’s battery subscription service, meaning road users could get behind the wheel of the new model for around £30,000.
TikTok vlogger Jeremy Lueck got up close to the Nio, dubbing the model Nio’s version of the “electric Range Rover”.
He said: “40,000 orders in just 24 hours. I never thought a $56k Chinese car would be this popular… this car is huge. Nearly 5,3 metres, All-wheel drive, in total 700 horsepower. And it supports battery swap. In three minutes, you’ve got a fully charged battery.”
The ES8 has a sizeable boot space with drivers able to take advantage of 550 litres. Nio has also fitted some luxury features for rear passengers to enjoy, including zero-gravity chairs, a 21.4-inch mini LED TV display and a mini fridge.
Stepping inside the cockpit, Jeremy said: “For the dashboard, we have this strip screen across all the way to the passenger side. And of course, Nio cars have always got this voice assistant called NOMI. Down below we’ve got two wireless charging pads, two cup holders.”
However, it may be a while until motorists in the UK can enjoy access to Nio’s new premium SUV model. Nio vehicles, including the NS8, are not yet available in the UK but could be soon, with plans for expansion already in the pipeline.
The brand has announced an aggressive expansion strategy with seven new European markets expecetd to go live before next summer.