‘Radical’ new budget ‘supermini’ EV rivalling ‘beast’ Renault & ‘powerful’ Volkswagen is coming to UK in months
A “RADICAL” new budget “supermini” EV, set to rival Renault’s “beast” and Volkswagen’s “powerful” models, is arriving in the UK in just months.”
The Nio Firefly has been confirmed for the European market, with UK sales expected soon.
The Chinese EV offers an impressive 260-mile range and a single rear-mounted 141bhp motor.
The budget electric car is expected to cost around £12,500.
After launching in China, Nio sold 3,680 Firefly models last month, boosting the brand’s overall sales by a whopping 13.1 per cent.
Reports suggest that the Firefly will be available in UK showrooms imminently, according to Autocar.
Qin Lihong, Nio’s president, revealed that it would launch a right-hand-drive variant for the UK by October.
The Chinese car brand is rapidly expanding across Europe, aiming to enter 16 new global markets this year.
It comes after an ultra-ambitious car maker revealed a new budget EV that some claim could rival Tesla.
Little-known Chinese manufacturer Nio is to release a sub-brand called Firefly – which will offer entry-level electric vehicles.
Spy shots have revealed the brand testing a small city-style hatchback, which is tipped to be showcased to the world on December 21 for their so-called Nio Day in Guangzhou, China.
Known for their advanced technology and innovative features, Nio is a relatively new EV startup – established in 2014 and adopting its current name in 2016.
Their first mass-produced car was the ES8, an all-electric SUV, which began sales in June 2018.
Nio also has a family-oriented brand called Onvo, with Onvo L60 the only model currently available for sale under that name.
The new Firefly marque will sit at the bottom of their tier of brands and will focus on small and mid-size EVs.
Automotive outlet CarScoops first revealed the motor back in March, and new photos they obtained revealed it will look like a typical hatchback in size with a short front and rear overhang – resembling the five-door Mini Cooper and BYD Dolphin.
Photos of the Firefly’s interior have also been published by IT Home and CarNewsChina.
Judging by these, it appears it will feature a large central infotainment screen along with a digital instrument cluster – all despite its budget-orientated appeal.
Little else is known about the new hatchback, and it will initially be launched in China before it comes to Europe – although tariff hikes will likely make it pricier than originally planned.
The release of the Firefly could certainly give Tesla something to think about in the future.