Roughly two months after initial details of the Firefly were revealed, the Nio-backed company has released real-world photos and more details of its upcoming EV that is scheduled to go on sale in China in April.
Nio opened pre-sales for the Firefly during Nio Day on 21 December 2024, with an estimated price of 148,800 yuan (20,460 USD). Customers in China can place a booking with a 199 yuan (24 USD) deposit.
The Firefly is a visually distinctive EV
In these newly released photos, the Firefly gets a cluster of three circular lights on each corner of the car, creating a distinctive visual identity. Moreover, both the headlights and tail lights feature a black trim piece that interconnects the lights for a unified look.
Other design elements include a subtle kink in the lower trim piece beneath the doors, hidden door handles, and a blacked-out rear spoiler – the latter makes for a surprisingly eye-catching design element when matched with the car’s black roof.
While earlier photos of the Firefly showcased the model with a simple six-spoke wheel design, these new photos revealed that it can be had with these sleek multi-spoke wheels, though the wheel dimensions are undisclosed.
Interior details of the Firefly
Although Nio has yet to reveal official photos of the Firefly, our earlier spy shot revealed that the upcoming EV gets a steering wheel column-mounted digital instrument cluster, as well as a large horizontal infotainment display, likely measuring 12.8 inches like other Nio models.
The Firefly is set to be Nio’s second model to feature a frunk, with a capacity of 92 liters. Boot space, on the other hand, comes in at 1,250 liters with the rear seats folded down. Firefly did not mention the boot space with the rear seat up.
Dimensions and performance of the Firefly
Speaking of dimensions, the Firefly measures 4003/1781/1557mm, with a wheelbase of 2,615mm. For context, that’s comparable to the 5-door Mini Cooper (4036/1727/1425mm).
As reported earlier, the Firefly will support Nio’s battery-swapping technology, allowing for the battery to be swappable, chargeable, and upgradable. Said battery is a 42.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery from Sunwoda, enabling a CLTC-rated range of 420 km.
The battery powers a 105 kW (140 hp) electric motor. Unlike the front-wheel-drive Mini Cooper 5-door, the Firefly is rear-wheel drive, similar to the adorable Honda e. And like the Honda e, the Firefly also gets a near 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution.
Firefly is designed as a global EV
According to Firefly CEO Daniel Jin, the Firefly is designed as a global EV and will be competing with some well-established marques, like Mini and Smart, albeit at a more affordable price. He also added that the brand is expected to enter the European market in Q2 2025, followed by Latin America and Southeast Asia markets.
