The numbers 666 and 13 don’t have the best of reputations in certain circles, but Chinese car brand Nio hopes its latest Firefly hatchback will have better luck with them — offering a limited run of 666 special edition EVs at a price that’s 13% higher than usual.
Nio launched the Club Spiaggia special edition of its Firefly EV this week, along with news that the gussied-up hatchback would begin arriving at Firefly retailers across China as early as today.
“The Firefly ‘Spiaggia Edition’ has officially launched, with just 666 units available,” reads the company’s official copy. “The model is priced at RMB 135,800 ($20,200), or RMB 95,800 ($14,250) with the Battery as a Service (BaaS) subscription. Orders are now open, with deliveries starting immediately.”
Breeze Blue
Club Spiaggia Firefly; via Nio.
That price is a 13% premium over the base Nio Firefly, but for that money you get a new “breeze blue” exterior color that draws inspiration from Italy’s sunlit coastlines and clear blue skies, giving the compact EV what Nio calls “a fresh, distinctly coastal character.”
Cabana stripe graphics in “aqua blue” and “sunlit orange” — as opposed to traditional racing stripes — sweep across the body, while “Club Spiaggia” decals complete the look.
Summer Siesta
The Club Spiaggia’s beachy makeover continues inside, with warm “sunny siesta” beige upholstery and “sunlit orange” accent splashes on everything from the contrast stitching on the steering wheel and seats to the door panels and cupholders. A full-length floor mat gets the same striped treatment, all in service of giving drivers the sense of an Italian seaside — minus the airfare and AirBnB scams, of course.
With the launch of its sixth special edition Firefly model, Nio believes it is “further shaping its identity as a high-end small car brand, infused with the laid-back spirit, warmth, and vitality of the coast.” Until they follow Hyundai’s and Lancia’s lead and present one of these in full rally trim, though, the special editions remain firmly in lifestyle territory. Whether China’s take on the classic Italian runabout resonates with buyers will become clear once all 666 units either sell out or sit on showroom floors.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Firefly World, via CNEVPost.
