- NIO’s full-size ES9 kept control at -30°C during high-speed tire blowouts at ~150 km/h, avoiding deviation or rollover risk.
- SkyRide Intelligent Chassis—steer-by-wire, rear steering, and active suspension—coordinates millisecond responses to maintain stability on ice.
- Despite 5.365 m length, the ES9 matched or beat compact FIREFLY in tight slalom, showing surprising agility for its size.
On March 23, NIO released a video showing the ES9 undergoing extreme cold testing in Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia.
In the footage, NIO CEO William Li personally took part in the driving tests, with the new ES9 completing multiple extreme-condition scenarios in temperatures as low as -30°C.
The tests included challenges such as a champagne tower stability test on ice, high-speed tire blowouts on ice, high-speed braking, and minimum turning radius maneuvers.
During the high-speed blowout test on ice, conducted at approximately 150 km/h, the vehicle maintained stable body control after a tire failure, without significant deviation or rollover risk.
Based on the footage, the vehicle remained controllable even when both front and rear tires failed simultaneously.
In the champagne tower challenge, the ES9 stacked an additional layer compared with previous tests for ET9, while maintaining precise body control on the low-grip ice surface—demonstrating a further advancement in active suspension capability over the ET9.
These performances are enabled by the ES9’s “SkyRide Intelligent Chassis.” The system integrates steer-by-wire, rear-wheel steering, and a fully active suspension, coordinated through a centralized chassis domain controller.
On ultra-low-friction ice surfaces, the system can coordinate braking, steering, and suspension with millisecond-level response times, continuously adjusting vehicle dynamics to maintain stability.
Notably, while emphasizing extreme stability, the ES9 also demonstrated agility unexpected for its size. NIO showcased this through a steering capability comparison with the compact Firefly.
In the slalom test (minimum turning radius), the ES9 navigated the ultra-narrow ice pillar course alongside the 4-meter compact FIREFLY, exhibiting a smaller turning radius.
Despite being NIO’s largest production model to date, it delivers handling flexibility comparable to a mid-to-large SUV.
Yakeshi is one of China’s key winter testing grounds, where automakers conduct cold-weather validation from October to March each year.
For electric vehicles, low temperatures not only test battery and thermal management systems but also amplify challenges in chassis control.
According to previously disclosed regulatory filings, the NIO ES9 is positioned as a full-size SUV, with dimensions of 5365 mm in length, 2029 mm in width, and 1870 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 3250 mm.
The vehicle exceeds the size of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Range Rover Vogue LWB.
In terms of powertrain, the ES9 will feature a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system with peak output of 520 kW and a top speed of 220 km/h.
It will come standard with a 102 kWh battery pack, delivering a CLTC range of 580–620 km.
NIO has announced that the ES9 technology launch event will take place on April 9, with the model set to officially launch in the second quarter.
The production vehicle is also expected to be displayed at the Beijing Auto Show later in April.
Discover more from ChinaEVHome
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
