NIO launches ET7 sedan with slick interior

NIO has launched its new ET7 sedan at an event in Chengdu, China. The company is highlighting the autonomous driving capability of the model, and with it come some fruity design details.

Much of the exterior design detailing has been carried over from the company’s previously launched models. The same slitted headlamps with their simple shape sit above two air intakes, underlined by angular body work that continues as a clear line along the side of the vehicle.

A low roofline gently rises and falls. It is made up almost entirely of glass, with barely any separation between the back window and the roof. Its elongated form at the rear stretches down into the boot door. The silhouette is only interrupted by a small fin tail and the various embedded sensors at the top of the windshield, which hint at the ET7’s autonomous driving capability.

Unlike previous NIO models, the rear is dominated by a light bar that stretches the entire width of the vehicle – a feature that is becoming increasingly common on new vehicles. The light pulsates from the centre outwards, described by the carmaker as a “heartbeat” signature.

NIO describes the interior of the ET7 as a “further interpretation of the second living room concept.” Everything has been chosen with a clear goal in mind – to make the inside of the ET7 a relaxing and comfortable space with a slick, modern aesthetic.

It marks the first application of Karuun renewable rattan on a production model – a strong wood that is sourced from tropical rain forests. A total of 14 pieces are used within the cabin, each possessing a unique texture. The most prominent of these pieces are the ones that are used for the middle layer of the dash and along half of the front doors, which can be lit by ambient LEDs. The wood continues from the rear half of the back doors and wraps around behind the back seats, providing a clear and continuous shape to the entire interior. The centre console also includes the wood, as do smaller sections of the doors.

Other features include the frameless and soft-closing doors, and the new 12.8-inch touchscreen sitting astride the centre console. Above the screen on the top of the dash is a circular ball called ‘NOMI Mate 2.0’ – an AI assistant that uses four microphones to pick up voice commands from the driver and passengers.

CDN previously spoke to Kaveh Shirdel, senior director UI/UX at NIO, about NOMI and other interior design details.