Chinese carmaker Nio has demonstrated how its new ET9 flagship’s suspension system can be used to shake off snow in the winter.
The recently revealed ET9 four-seater sedan’s SkyRide system allows independent control of each wheel, and six-way adjustment to the stiffness, damping and height of the suspension.
Nio says the system can process and respond to data from road bumps and surfaces in a thousandth of a second, allowing it to better tackle poor surfaces.
In a WeChat post, Nio has shown how the ET9 can shake off soft powder snow by shifting the vehicle’s body height between +40mm and -50mm.
Earlier this year Nio demonstrated the technology on a prototype by assembling a tower of 14 filled champagne coupe glasses on the bonnet of the sedan and driving it along a corrugated surface.
Measuring 5325mm long, 2016mm wide and 1620mm tall on a lengthy 3250mm wheelbase, Nio says the ET9 has a “Landjet” design and promises “first-class” comfort inside.
The ET9 features a 900V electrical architecture with peak charging power of 600kW, and can use Nio’s growing network of battery-swapping stations. Nio promises 255km of range with just five minutes of charging.
Power comes from a 340kW permanent magnet motor at the rear and an 180kW induction motor at the front, for a total system output of 520kW.
The Nio ET9 is available for pre-order in China, with deliveries set to begin there in the first quarter of 2025. It starts from 800,000 yuan (A$169,650).
Nio has yet to announce plans to enter the Australian market, though it has lodged trademark applications for a raft of its nameplates – some of which have been opposed by Audi for being too similar to its nameplates.
The company isn’t the first to introduce a sophisticated suspension system with an attention-grabbing function.
The E-Active Body Control system on the Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLS has a Free Driving Assist mode that allows you to bounce the vehicle to extricate it from snow or sand.
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