Forget Taylor Swift... This Chinese electric car shows how to really shake it off

Chinese carmaker Nio has demonstrated how its new ET9 flagship’s suspension system can be used to shake off snow in the winter.

The recently revealed ET9 four-seater sedan’s SkyRide system allows independent control of each wheel, and six-way adjustment to the stiffness, damping and height of the suspension.

Nio says the system can process and respond to data from road bumps and surfaces in a thousandth of a second, allowing it to better tackle poor surfaces.

In a WeChat post, Nio has shown how the ET9 can shake off soft powder snow by shifting the vehicle’s body height between +40mm and -50mm.

Earlier this year Nio demonstrated the technology on a prototype by assembling a tower of 14 filled champagne coupe glasses on the bonnet of the sedan and driving it along a corrugated surface.

Measuring 5325mm long, 2016mm wide and 1620mm tall on a lengthy 3250mm wheelbase, Nio says the ET9 has a “Landjet” design and promises “first-class” comfort inside.

The ET9 features a 900V electrical architecture with peak charging power of 600kW, and can use Nio’s growing network of battery-swapping stations. Nio promises 255km of range with just five minutes of charging.

Power comes from a 340kW permanent magnet motor at the rear and an 180kW induction motor at the front, for a total system output of 520kW.

The Nio ET9 is available for pre-order in China, with deliveries set to begin there in the first quarter of 2025. It starts from 800,000 yuan (A$169,650).

Nio has yet to announce plans to enter the Australian market, though it has lodged trademark applications for a raft of its nameplates – some of which have been opposed by Audi for being too similar to its nameplates.

The company isn’t the first to introduce a sophisticated suspension system with an attention-grabbing function.

The E-Active Body Control system on the Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLS has a Free Driving Assist mode that allows you to bounce the vehicle to extricate it from snow or sand.

MORE: China’s Nio reveals its most luxurious electric car yet