Latest news with #FireflyEV
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Another Chinese car brand arrives in the UK
It's another day and that means yet another Chinese car brand arriving in Britain that you've never heard of before. Roll up the budget-friendly Firefly EV - the new compact supermini from Chinese giant Nio that is looking to put its stamp on the UK market this year. The Firefly – confusingly the name of Nio's sub-brand and its first model - will go up against the new Renault 5 EV and forthcoming Volkswagen ID.2, Renault Twingo and BYD Dolphin Surf city EVs. Confirmed for the European market this year, Nio is accelerating its rollout of the popular Firefly globally and it could arrive here as soon as October - making it the latest cheap Chinese EV to take to British roads. Launched in April in China , the small EV costs the equivalent of £12,500 - though that's not inclusive of import taxes and some favourable domestic subsidies. When it comes to the UK, it's expected to enter the increasingly populated sub-£25k affordable EV category. Said to be inspired by some European cult models, like the Fiat 500, the design is aimed at attracting 'lifestyle-based' buyers who want a 'memorable' electric car, Nio says. Its range is around 260 miles (albeit based on China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle which is about 15 per cent more forgiving than the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure), putting it about equal to the Renault 5 (250-mile range) and considerably ahead of the £15,000 Dacia Spring (140-mile range). At 4,003mm long, 1,781mm wide and 1,557mm tall, it is larger than the Renault 5 across all five dimensions. Via the Firefly brand, Nio's set its sights on building 'new, small electric vehicles, a car for everyone', Vice President of Nio design told journalists at the Shanghai Auto Show. 'The brief was really to create the next mini or Fiat 500; something iconic, something memorable, [and] to take advantage of electrification. 'We were to build a different, new design identity, something that was going to be more lifestyle-based than our premium brands, [Nio and Onvo],' he added. The Firefly is nothing like what we've seen from Nio previously. The compact model contrasts the Chinese giant's typical big, luxury saloons and SUVs, instead offering buyers a fun, small, sporty and endearing little zero emissions urban runaround. The tagline is 'small, electric, buzzing with energy', the blurb says. With seating for five, it's surprising practical with a 404-litre boot (larger than most compact cars including the R5's 326 litres) and a massive 92-litre additional froot (front boot). In terms of cabin tech, it boasts a Chat GPT-operated voice command system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and benefits from two digital screens. And it will be one of the plushest and most luxurious small cars on the market, offering heated and ventilated front seats that even have massaging functionality like a high-end Mercedes limo. The rear-wheel drive car can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 8.1 seconds and has a limited top speed of 93mph. The 42kW battery has a max charging speed of 100kW and can fast charge 10 to 80 per cent in 29 minutes. Handily for town, it has a turning radius of just 4.7metres, so weaving between width restrictions shouldn't be a drama. Will the Firefly create a buzz in Europe? Firefly - initially announced as a new brand alongside Onvo but the two were repositioned as sub-brands by Nio shortly afterwards - is important for the Chinese battery swapping leader, with the Shanghai-based car maker not yet nearing profitability despite its sales growing. In May, its first full month of deliveries, Firefly sold 3,680 vehicles according to Nio data. And so, the model has played a key role in boosting the brand's overall sales for the month by 13.1 per cent year on year. Nio is currently in the midst of a huge European expansion, committing to entering 16 new global markets this year alone. Seven of those have already been confirmed in Europe: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland and Romania. And the Firefly has been specifically designed for the European market: it was supposed to launch in Europe first but due to tariffs and geopolitical tensions, as well as Nio's shaky sales, it arrived in China first. The UK is a big market for small EVs at the moment, with the Hyundai Inster , the Renault 5 and the Kia EV3 just a few of the latest entrants.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Nio comes to the UK this year with Chinese manufacturer launching 'cheap' small EV called Firefly
It's another day and that means yet another Chinese car brand arriving in Britain that you've never heard of before. Roll up the budget-friendly Firefly EV - the new compact supermini from Chinese giant Nio that is looking to put its stamp on the UK market this year. The Firefly – confusingly the name of Nio's sub-brand and its first model - will go up against the new Renault 5 EV and forthcoming Volkswagen ID.2, Renault Twingo and BYD Dolphin Surf city EVs. Confirmed for the European market this year, Nio is accelerating its rollout of the popular Firefly globally and it could arrive here as soon as October - making it the latest cheap Chinese EV to take to British roads. Launched in April in China, the small EV costs the equivalent of £12,500 - though that's not inclusive of import taxes and some favourable domestic subsidies. When it comes to the UK, it's expected to enter the increasingly populated sub-£25k affordable EV category. Said to be inspired by some European cult models, like the Fiat 500, the design is aimed at attracting 'lifestyle-based' buyers who want a 'memorable' electric car, Nio says. Its range is around 260 miles (albeit based on China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle which is about 15 per cent more forgiving than the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure), putting it about equal to the Renault 5 (250-mile range) and considerably ahead of the £15,000 Dacia Spring (140-mile range). Nio's Firefly - a sub-brand of Nio and also the name of its first EV model - is a small electric city car that costs just £12,500 in China. It will come to the UK as early as October where it should cost less than £25,000 At 4,003mm long, 1,781mm wide and 1,557mm tall, it is larger than the Renault 5 across all five dimensions. Via the Firefly brand, Nio's set its sights on building 'new, small electric vehicles, a car for everyone', Vice President of Nio design told journalists at the Shanghai Auto Show. 'The brief was really to create the next mini or Fiat 500; something iconic, something memorable, [and] to take advantage of electrification. 'We were to build a different, new design identity, something that was going to be more lifestyle-based than our premium brands, [Nio and Onvo],' he added. The Firefly is slightly bigger than the Renault 5: It's 4,003mm long, 1,781mm wide and 1,557mm tall compared to the R5 which is 3,992mm long, 1,774 wide and 1,498 tall Its range is around 260 miles (albeit based on China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle which is about 15% more forgiving than the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) In May, its first full month of deliveries, Firefly sold 3,680 vehicles according to Nio data, playing a key role in boosting the brand's overall sales for the month by 13.1 % y-o-y Vice President of Nio design told journalists at the Shanghai Auto Show: 'We were to build a different, new design identity, something that was going to be more lifestyle-based than our premium brands, [Nio and Onvo]' The Firefly is nothing like what we've seen from Nio previously. The compact model contrasts the Chinese giant's typical big, luxury saloons and SUVs, instead offering buyers a fun, small, sporty and endearing little zero emissions urban runaround. The tagline is 'small, electric, buzzing with energy', the blurb says. With seating for five, it's surprising practical with a 404-litre boot (larger than most compact cars including the R5's 326 litres) and a massive 92-litre additional froot (front boot). In terms of cabin tech, it boasts a Chat GPT-operated voice command system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and benefits from two digital screens. And it will be one of the plushest and most luxurious small cars on the market, offering heated and ventilated front seats that even have massaging functionality like a high-end Mercedes limo. The rear-wheel drive car can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 8.1 seconds and has a limited top speed of 93mph. The 42kW battery has a max charging speed of 100kW and can fast charge 10 to 80 per cent in 29 minutes. Handily for town, it has a turning radius of just 4.7metres, so weaving between width restrictions shouldn't be a drama. With seating for five, it's surprising practical with a 404-litre boot (larger than most compact cars including the R5's 326 litres) and a massive 92-litre additional froot (front boot) (pictured) Will the Firefly create a buzz in Europe? Firefly - initially announced as a new brand alongside Onvo but the two were repositioned as sub-brands by Nio shortly afterwards - is important for the Chinese battery swapping leader, with the Shanghai-based car maker not yet nearing profitability despite its sales growing. In May, its first full month of deliveries, Firefly sold 3,680 vehicles according to Nio data. And so, the model has played a key role in boosting the brand's overall sales for the month by 13.1 per cent year on year. Nio is currently in the midst of a huge European expansion, committing to entering 16 new global markets this year alone. Seven of those have already been confirmed in Europe: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland and Romania. And the Firefly has been specifically designed for the European market: it was supposed to launch in Europe first but due to tariffs and geopolitical tensions, as well as Nio's shaky sales, it arrived in China first. The UK is a big market for small EVs at the moment, with the Hyundai Inster, the Renault 5 and the Kia EV3 just a few of the latest entrants.
Auto Express
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New Firefly EV 2025 review: Nio city car has a small price and huge potential
The Firefly EV looks chic and is smartly designed; a dwarf on the outside and a giant on the inside – but above all, it's a lot of fun to drive. Of course, it's nowhere near as ambitious as its bigger Nio-branded cousins, but it's also barely half the price. With Firefly, Nio could finally capture the imagination of hard-to-please Europeans. Advertisement - Article continues below Some of the new cars coming from China blend in facelessly with the crowd, like the GWM Ora 03 or the BYD Dolphin, while others are content with their role of looking like a spartan piggy bank, such as the Leapmotor T03. Either way, the Chinese haven't really shown a knack for small cars so far. But now, finally, a city car with some character is on the horizon. Nio, the electric car giant and innovator of battery-swapping technology, revealed its 'Firefly' sub-brand late last year and will be launching its characterful four-door, four-meter-long supermini in certain parts of Europe this summer, as part of a charm offensive and effort to challenge the European competition – the Renault 5 in particular. But just because the Firefly is small and cute, don't be fooled; it's got a lot of tricks up its sleeves. It's as lively as any electric car, smartly tuned with a tiny turning circle thanks to the rear-wheel drive layout – something that's quite unusual for this class. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View Tiguan View X1 View XC40 Driving the rear wheels is a 141bhp electric motor, which, with 200Nm of torque, makes the 1,500kg car feel much more lively than one might expect, given its official 0-62mph time of 8.1 seconds. From traffic light starts, to quick lane changes, within Shanghai's city limits, the Firefly is a hero. Advertisement - Article continues below Only on the many elevated ring roads around the city do things get a bit tougher, and once you leave the urban sprawl, the fun eventually stops because the Firefly maxes out at 93mph. And with a relatively small 42.1kWh battery – average for this class, admittedly – the maximum range stands at just 205 miles. At least that's according to the stricter WLTP cycle, and not China's more lax CLTC standard. The Firefly is well suited to the city, but it's also surprisingly spacious. Taller adults can sit comfortably in the front seats; the sofa-like bench seat is separated by a centre console, featuring a slide-out storage bin and a single cup-holder. The rear seat space is comfortable too, and not just for short trips. Furthermore, the 404-litre boot is larger than that of many compact cars. The Renault 5, for instance, offers 326 litres. In fact, even the much larger Volkswagen ID.3 only has a 385-litre boot. As if that weren't enough, the Firefly boasts a huge 92-litre frunk plus, depending on the trim level, two compartments under the seats for either hiding valuables or dirty running shoes. Total cargo space, when the rear seats are folded down, adds up to a very impressive 1,345 litres. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The interior overall is somber but not bare, simple but not spartan; material quality feels good. It's surprising to see heated, ventilated and messaging seats in such an affordable electric car – there's even an electric tailgate. Nio's cars get a small circular display atop the dashboard solely for the googly-eyed avatar for their own virtual assistant, Nomi. The Firefly does without that (featuring an on-board virtual assistant powered by ChatGPT) and instead has a simple tablet mounted onto the dashboard, with another small display behind the steering wheel. It's a pretty clever set-up. For starters, there's Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which even range-topping Nio models still don't get yet. There aren't any physical buttons, but by holding two fingers on the central screen, you can adjust the temperature, fan speed and media volume. The 11kW AC and 100kW DC rapid-charging capacities are on par with the R5, MINI Cooper Electric and Fiat 500e. The Firefly has been designed to allow for battery swapping, which would give it an advantage over those retro-inspired rivals, but due to the significantly smaller batteries compared to Nio's models, it can't use the brand's 'Power Swap Stations' found in China and Europe. As such, Firefly will require its own network. The starting price of the Firefly is equivalent to around £13,000 in China, but in Europe, the figure is likely to hit €30,000 – around £25k at the current exchange rate. That's after all of Brussels' punitive tariffs have been paid. By the time it's ready to export – there are no confirmed UK plans as yet – it's hoped the city car will have met the five-star Euro NCAP plus European comfort standards. But Nio doesn't want Firefly to compete with cars like the Citroen e-C3 or the upcoming Renault Twingo. It feels quite comfortable in the environment of the Renault 5 and Hyundai Inster, plus the Volkswagen ID.2 that's due later this year. But above all, it's got its eye on the MINI Cooper, which is currently available from just under £27k. It's no coincidence that Nio chose the MINI as the main rival for the Firefly. After all, the two small cars not only have a similar target audience and compete within the same segment of the market, but they also have (almost) the same origin story: Both are built in China, and both were born in Munich – one in BMW's research and development centre, the other in Nio's European design HQ. Model: Nio Firefly EV Price £25,000 (est) On sale: TBC Powertrain: 42.1kWh battery, 1x e-motor Power/torque: 141bhp/200Nm Transmission: Single-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive 0-62mph: 8.1 seconds Top speed: 93mph Range: 205 miles Max. charging: 100kW (10-80% in 29 mins) Size (L/W/H): 4,000/1,860/1,560mm Now you can buy a car through our network of top dealers around the UK. Search for the latest deals… Used Alpine A110 (2017-date) review Used Bentley Continental GT (Mk3, 2018-date) review Used BMW Z4 (Mk3, 2019-date) buyer's guide: a worthy Porsche Boxster rival Used Ford Kuga Mk3 (2020-date) review: a popular and desirable mid-size SUV Used Hyundai i20 (Mk3, 2020-date) review: a classy and appealing supermini? Ford should bring back the Fiesta. Oh no it shouldn't! Ford should bring back the Fiesta. Oh no it shouldn't! 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