Nio ET5 Shooting Brake (Orion) heads to Europe this Summer [Update]

Update: ‘Name’ section added and ‘Price & Release date’ section updated.

As Nio expands into new markets in Europe, it will introduce a model specifically designed for customers in that region – the Nio ET5 Shooting Brake – to scale up its presence there. The model’s name is unofficial at the moment, but the company has confirmed it will offer ET5 in a shooting brake body style. Here’s everything we know so far about the electric estate:

Name

According to an inside source who spoke to Autocar, the ET5 Shooting Brake will officially be known as the Nio ET5 Orion. Furthermore, the report confirms that the Nio ET5 Orion will be offered with a right-hand drive configuration tailored for the UK market.

Design

A unique roofline distinguishes the Nio ET5 Orion from its donor model. Due to its elongated roof, its roofline does not fall as steeply as that of the sedan. A two-box design ensures that its rear end is less raked, which means better visibility through the back glass and more cargo space. Adding bigger rear quarter glass panels allows rear-seat passengers to see more of the surroundings and allows more natural light into the cabin.

According to a picture from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology declaration (see below), Nio will offer various color options for the window surrounds, alloy wheels, brake calipers, and emblems.

Interior

It is likely that the ET5 Shooting Brake will have the same low-profile dashboard with concealed air vents as the ET5 sedan, a floating 12.8-inch AMOLED central display, the NOMI AI voice assistant, and a floating 10.2-inch HDR instrument cluster. In addition to better visibility of the surroundings, rear-seat passengers should get more headroom in the ET5 Shooting Brake.

Front seats with heating and massage functions, heated rear seats, dual-zone climate control system, 256-color curtain ambient lighting, Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 surround sound system, PanoCinema (AR/VR experience), etc. will likely be the other interior highlights of the ET5 Shooting Brake.

Specifications

As per MIIT data, the Nio ET5 Shooting Brake sports a dual-motor powertrain that produces 360 kW (483 hp) and 700 Nm (516 lb.-ft.) of torque. It has a tow rating of 1,400 kg (3,086 lbs.) in China. It may come with 75 kWh, 100 kWh, and 150 kWh battery pack options, although the biggest unit might not be available right from launch, as is the case with the ET5.

The ET5 delivers a WLTP range of 456 km (283 mi) with the 75 kWh battery pack and 590 km (367 mi) with the 100 kWh battery pack. The WLTP range of the ET5 Shooting Brake could be slightly lower (estimates in the table below). A 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint should take the same time, though – 4.0 seconds. We already know that the top speed is the same – 200 km/h (124 mph).

Aspect	Nio ET5 Orion Specification
Length	4,790 mm (188.6 in.)
Width	1,960 mm (77.2 in.)
Height	1,499 mm (59.0 in.)
Wheelbase	2,888 mm (113.7 in.)
Front Overhang	897 mm (35.3 in.)
Rear Overhang	1,005 mm (39.6 in.)
Front Track	1,685 mm (66.3 in.)
Rear Track	1,685 mm (66.3 in.)
Approach Angle	13º
Departure Angle	14º
Tire Size	245/45 R19 or 245/40 R20
Curb Weight	2,195/2,205/2,225/2,245 kg (4,839/4,861/4,905/4,949 lbs.)
Gross Weight	2,730 kg (6,018 lbs.)
Drivetrain Layout	AWD
No. of Motors	2 (Front – 150 kW; Rear – 210 kW)
System Power*	360 kW (483 hp)
System Torque*	700 Nm (516 lb.-ft.)
Towing Capacity	1,400 kg (3,086 lbs.)
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) Acceleration Time*	4.0 seconds
Top Speed	200 km/h (124 mph)
Battery Pack*	75 kWh/100 kWh/150 kWh
WLTP Range*	433 km (269 mi)/561 km (349 mi)/780 km (485 mi)

While we don’t have the cargo volume, it’s obvious that the ET5 Shooting Brake will shine in that area, since it’s one of its selling points. The longer roof will make it more suitable for people who lead more active lives. It will allow mounting a long roof box for extra storage space, ski and surf boards, bicycles, and more. Swedish, Norwegian, German, and other European customers who traditionally buy station wagons for the outdoor lifestyle would appreciate its practical features.

Price & Release Date

Recent images circulating on the web indicate that Nio has already conducted an advertising shoot for the ET5 Orion, reportedly in Norway. Usually, such activities suggest that the official reveal of the vehicle is imminent.

During Nio’s Q4 2022 earnings conference call on March 1, 2023, William Bin Li, founder, BoM chairman, and CEO, Nio, said that the company will begin delivering its fifth model in July 2023. He was referring to the shooting brake version of the ET5.

On January 28, 2023, XCar reported that Qin Lihong, the co-founder and President of Nio, has said that the company plans to launch Shooting Brake first in Europe and then in China. So far, all the models have first gone on sale in the company’s home market and then in Europe.

The Nio ET5 Orion will be slightly pricier than the ET5, which costs NOK 526,775 (USD 48,428) with the 75 kWh battery pack and NOK 614,525 (USD 56,495) with the 100 kWh battery pack in Sweden. Like the electric sedan, the electric shooting brake should come with a BaaS option. The Audi A6 Avant e-tron and the BMW i5 Touring arriving on the market in 2024 would be its rivals.

TopElectricSUV says

The Nio ET5 Shooting Brake will be a more practical and stylish alternative to the ET5, made for customers who travel more often, are into adventure sports, or simply want an EV that can stand out. It could also be seen as an affordable and range-focused option compared to the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo.

Featured Image Source: China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology