By the end of next year, the extended version of the Nio U8 is poised to launch, targeting the hybrid off-road SUV market. Recent spy shots reveal at least four key details: 1) new wheel hubs, 2) only one of the three roof-mounted lidar sensors remains, 3) the front design remains unchanged, and 4) the body is slimmer than the current model. The extensive exposed areas on the front suggest that the extended Nio U8 is likely undergoing intelligent driving function tests. Testing energy consumption typically requires a relatively complete vehicle. Our primary concern is whether the Nio U8's power system will undergo changes post-extension, potentially enhancing range, comfort, and off-road performance.

(Image: 2024 Nio U8 Off-Road Player Edition)

While retaining off-road performance, the extension may not necessarily involve an elongated wheelbase.

Before acquiring precise size data, two potential extension scenarios for the Nio U8 exist: wheelbase extension or body extension only. Considering the first scenario, if both wheelbase and body are extended, it would allow for a larger battery pack, enhancing both pure electric and combined ranges beyond the current 49.05kWh blade battery's 180km CLTC pure electric range and 1000km combined range. This extension would also optimize cabin space, particularly legroom in the second row. Given Nio U8's dual-motor integration, the second-row seating position is already near the rear wheel arches, potentially allowing for a third row. However, the boxy design, with C- and D-pillars nearly perpendicular to the ground and a width exceeding 2 meters, offers significant rear space utilization, potentially accommodating a third row.

However, the exaggerated size of the rear wheel arches raises doubts about third-row seating comfort. Ideally, seats should be positioned closer to the D-pillar, limiting trunk space. Moreover, the E-Quad platform's rear suspension height necessitates independent third-row seating, similar to the Toyota Land Cruiser LC100's folding design, to maintain trunk utility.

Will the powertrain adapt to size changes? Likely not. Nio U8's E-Quad platform-based powertrain employs a single-speed fixed-ratio transmission, simplifying power delivery and reducing energy loss. With the horizontally mounted 2.0T engine suited for series electric four-wheel drive, increased battery capacity and body frame size will inevitably boost curb weight, necessitating synchronized motor power increases to meet fuel economy and performance demands. Thus, a larger battery pack expands pure electric driving scenarios, potentially lowering the current model's 10.8L/100km fuel consumption.

Alternatively, the extended Nio U8 might only lengthen the body. As a million-yuan-level electric hybrid off-road SUV, sacrificing off-road capability for a third row seems unnecessary. Shorter wheelbases offer more flexible body postures in extreme conditions. While the Defender 130 is 340mm longer than the Defender 110, its wheelbase remains 3022mm. Even with an unchanged wheelbase, the extended rear suspension affects departure angle, impacting ground clearance. Thus, the extended Nio U8 will likely focus on cabin enhancements and overall comfort, akin to Range Rover's executive four-seater version.

With comfort-tuned suspension, does Cloud Cruiser-P only utilize half its potential? Cloud Cruiser-P, an active hydraulic suspension system built with coil springs for durability and load strength, employs intelligent driving hardware like lidar and cameras to preview road conditions, adjusting shock absorber damping for optimal body control. While softening the chassis is straightforward, the key lies in integrating intelligent driving for a fully active chassis, enabling off-road navigation alongside highway and urban navigation. Complex terrains present numerous uncalibrated obstacles, making lidar-based intelligent driving hardware essential even for off-road beginners.

Regarding the extended Nio U8's intelligent driving system, we speculate on its technical direction. Given its premium positioning, hardware will likely mirror the current Nio U8's three 96-line lidars and two Orin X chips. Rumored options like Orin N, Horizon Robotics J6E, or self-developed 80TOPS chips are more suited to mid-to-low-end models. Software-wise, the BEV+Occupancy framework with a Transformer backbone is plausible, leveraging over 2.34 million point clouds per second for 3D data modeling. Occupancy divides the world into position cells, filled with obstacle coordinates, while BEV is crucial for completing 3D data models.

The Transformer-based architecture is a segmented end-to-end system. Handling corner cases often involves multimodal generative AI models like Vision-and-Language Models (VLMs), combining language models with visual encoders to interpret images and convert video signals into text responses. Through training, the system learns to generate scenario-specific execution decisions. Thus, the complete end-to-end architecture comprises these components. Higher on-board computing power elevates processing capabilities and algorithm limits. For Nio U8 to realize functions like off-road navigation and full chassis adjustment, substantial computing power is essential for optimal results.