Nio has officially launched its new firefly sub-brand at the recent Nio Day 2024, with the first model being offered simply called Firefly. The new electric vehicle (EV) will not only be sold in China, as there are plans for an introduction in Europe sometime in the first half of 2025.
Pre-orders for the Firefly have already started in China with a starting price of 148,800 yuan (about RM91k), with deliveries set to commence in April next year. For now, the company is not providing much in the way of details relating to the powertrain but it has been reported that the EV will come with Nio’s battery swapping technology.
In one of the videos posted on firefly’s Weibo page, the brand pits its offering against the latest MINI Cooper Electric as well as the smart #1 on a small track to emphasise the Firefly’s superior manoeuvrability with a turning radius of just 4.7 metres. Nio says this makes its EV particularly suitable for narrow European streets.
Various parking assistance features were also touted in a separate video, and the company is also exceptionally proud of the Firefly’s 92-litre frunk and boot space of 1,250 litres with the rear seats folded down.
The Firefly also boasts a five-star rating from C-NCAP and has a body structure that is 83.4% high-strength steel. As a result, its torsional rigidity is at 35,700 Nm/degree, which is the highest in its class according to Nio, with nine airbags and an ADAS suite also fitted.
As for the design, the Firefly hatchback gives off Honda e vibes, with standout cues being distinctive “trio” headlamps and taillights. The EV was penned by Nio’s design vice president Kris Tomasson, who has worked in BMW and Ford previously. No interior images were released, but the Firefly’s cabin appears to follow a minimalistic theme with a pair of large displays and two-spoke steering wheel.
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