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The Firefly electrical hatchback from Nio has been authorised on the market in Australia, however we don’t but know who will distribute it or when it can launch.
Unusually, Australian Design Rule certification paperwork have been printed for the Firefly by the Australian Authorities earlier than a neighborhood launch has even been introduced.
This follows native trademark filings made for the Firefly model over the previous couple of years, in addition to affirmation from Nio earlier this yr that it might launch the model within the right-hand drive Singaporean market in 2026.
Firefly is a derivative model of Nio and has only one mannequin for now, the eponymous hatchback. It’s being pitched as a premium small-car model, aimed on the likes of BMW’s Mini and Geely and Mercedes-Benz’s Good.
There’s only one powertrain that’s been authorised on the market in Australia, throughout two variants. This contains a single electrical motor producing 105kW of energy, sending drive to the rear wheels.
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The Firefly measures 4003mm lengthy, 1781mm extensive and 1557mm tall on a 2615mm wheelbase.
That makes it considerably shorter than different small electrical hatchbacks, together with the BYD Dolphin which measures 4290mm lengthy. The Firefly, nevertheless, is 11mm wider and rides a wheelbase simply 85mm shorter.
Nonetheless, it’s 53mm longer and 86mm wider than a Toyota Yaris on a 65mm longer wheelbase.
It rides on 18-inch alloy wheels.
Whereas specification particulars are restricted in authorities approval paperwork, we will look to the European market – particularly the Dutch and Norwegian markets – for extra particulars.
Within the Netherlands, the Firefly vary opens at €29,900 (~A$53,300) for the First Version.
There’s solely a 105kW/200Nm electrical motor accessible, powered by a 41.2kWh battery with as much as 330km of WLTP electrical vary.
Power consumption is 14.5kWh/100km, additionally underneath the WLTP cycle, whereas it may be charged at as much as 11kW on AC energy and 100kW utilizing DC energy.
There’s additionally 3.68kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging functionality, permitting you to energy home equipment, in addition to a one-pedal drive mode.
The Firefly options MacPherson strut entrance and five-link rear suspension.
The outside lighting is quirky, with three round lights on both aspect of the automobile, each entrance and rear. The headlights are LED and have adaptive high-beam.
Inside, there’s a 6.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There’s 256-colour ambient lighting, a digital rear-view mirror, semi-autonomous parking help, and a 14-speaker 640W sound system with Dolby Atmos.
The seats and door panels are completed in 100 per cent recycled polyester, with the entrance seats that includes heating as normal.
The highest grade additionally provides ventilated, massaging and power-adjustable entrance seats in addition to microfibre upholstery.
It additionally receives a panoramic glass roof, power-folding exterior mirrors, a perfume system, wi-fi telephone charger and an influence tailgate.
Commonplace security tools consists of autonomous emergency braking (ahead and reverse), blind-spot monitoring together with a digicam view, adaptive cruise management, lane-keep help, protected exit warning and visitors signal recognition.
There’s 404 litres of cargo area on the again, increasing to 1253L with the rear seats dropped. There’s additionally 92L of storage underneath the bonnet.
Firefly isn’t the one spinoff model of Nio. Along with debuting Firefly final yr, it additionally launched Onvo, a extra reasonably priced, family-focused counterpart to Nio’s namesake model with a give attention to the European market.
It’s unclear whether or not Nio plans to introduce its so-called battery-as-a-service (BaaS) providing, which sees house owners successfully lease battery entry and have the flexibility to drive to a battery swapping station.
