Bitauto Original To some extent, the launch of Cadillac LYRIQ Ruige (hereinafter referred to as Ruige) has saved some face for luxury brands in the new energy field. Under the influence of new forces and Tesla, can Cadillac achieve a comeback in the new energy era? The model we are looking for today is the Weilai ES8, which is also a medium and large SUV.
Although there is some gap in pricing between the two, considering the added value brought by Weilai’s service system and the target group of these two cars are not currently among the people who “will grit their teeth and buy a 500,000 tram”, So the comparison between these two cars is very interesting.
Let me first explain the specific comparison configuration before the article. Ruige chose the four-wheel drive high-performance version of the top model with 479,700 yuan. The dual-motor model is only 20,000 yuan more expensive than the single-motor model with the same configuration. It is the most conscientious among all new energy models. Weilai ES8 chose the six-seat 580km version with a guide price of 544,000 yuan. The price after subsidies is 531,400 yuan. It is also the version with maximum endurance and dual motors. The price difference between the two cars is about 50,000 yuan. This price difference is also the price that most people are willing to pay for the service-after all, the price of the first edition exceeds 600,000 yuan.
Appearance interpretation: Weilai ES8 is still attractive and Ruige is full of futuristic feeling
In my opinion, appearance should be the first difficulty in choosing between these two cars. Looking at the front face first, NIO ES8 adopts the X-BAR design language. Even in the past four or five years, this design language has not become outdated. The simple design uses geometric lines to consolidate the styling features, which itself is more attractive. Since it is positioned as a mid-to-large SUV, the exterior design of the NIO ES8 retains a sense of simplicity and strength while also adding some bright elements to enhance its sense of luxury.
Cadillac LYRIQ is different. This car did have a shocking first impression when it first came out. At least in terms of design, it has inheritance and innovation. In fact, for traditional car companies, how to strike a balance between these two points is particularly important, which means that they must not only capture old car owners, but also attract more new people.
Cadillac LYRIQ has the iconic Cadillac tough lines, an oversized shield-shaped front face and in-line LED light groups. These points make it easy for people to recognize that this is a Cadillac, and it is also a continuation of the classic.
In addition to these points, the unrestrained side of the car gives this car a stronger sense of the future. The black crystal grille is also an innovative part. The 58 light strips and corresponding light languages are in line with our vision of future models. some imagination.
In terms of body size, both vehicles are positioned as medium and large SUVs, and their body lengths are both over 5 meters. The three-dimensional dimensions of Weilai ES8 are 5022/1962/1756mm, and the wheelbase reaches 3010mm; Cadillac LYRIQThe body measurements are 5003/1977/1637mm, and the wheelbase reaches 3094mm.
From a parameter perspective, the advantage of the Weilai ES8 lies in its body length and height, while the Cadillac LYRIQ's body width and wheelbase are more prominent. What is worth noting here is the parameter of body height. Cadillac LYRIQ is 119mm lower. This gap will be very obvious visually. Wider and lower correspond to a more powerful and dynamic shape - a wide body and a low profile. It is also a popular design style in recent years. At the same time, the front windward surface is also smaller, which helps to reduce power consumption.
The two cars have completely different styles on the side of the body. The Weilai ES8 is a standard seven-seat mid-to-large SUV style, similar to the well-known Audi Q7 and other models. The side lines are straight to ensure space performance.
Cadillac LYRIQ creates a sense of dynamics through a slender front, higher waistline and window line design, and a more sloping rear window. This is also because Cadillac LYRIQ is a five-seater model, plus the 3094mm axle distance, allowing more space for styling.
In terms of rim size, Weilai ES8 comes standard with 19-inch rims, and there are two other options of 20-inch and 21-inch rims. The optional prices range from 9,500 to 26,500 yuan, and the tire specification is 255/55 R19; Cadillac LYRIQ comes standard with 20-inch wheels, but only another 20-inch wheel is optional. The optional price is 1,500 yuan, and the tire specification is 265/50 R20. In terms of customization, NIO ES8 has more options, but you have to be willing to spend money.
The difference at the rear is similar to the side, and the two cars convey different feelings. From a personal point of view, I would prefer the tail design of Cadillac LYRIQ: the exaggerated taillights extend to the side, the vertical light group below echoes the headlight group, and the Cadillac shield-shaped elements are also retained, which gives a very good visual impression. The tail of NIO ES8 is more square, and the front and rear designs are more unified. The disadvantage is that this language has been used for four years and is a bit boring.
Interior comparison: Weilai ES8 has a better sense of space and Ruige has a full sense of technology
The interior has become one of the core competitive points of this level. In this part, we mainly talk about two aspects that everyone is concerned about: how the sense of quality is, and how the smart experience is.
First of all, let’s talk about the quality of the interior. After all, at the price of 500,000, consumers will definitely have higher requirements for the look and feel of the interior. In terms of interior materials, NIO ES8 comes standard with leather materials and fabric ceilings. The center console, seats, steering wheel, etc. are all made of leather. If you don't think it's luxurious enough, you can choose a microfiber velvet ceiling and NAPPA leather for extra money. In addition, manufacturersThe dark chrome strips officially called "lunar eclipse chrome" will indeed look more advanced than the bright chrome of the old model.
Cadillac does not have any interior material options. It is similar to the standard ES8. It also uses a large amount of leather, but the more luxurious NAPPA leather or Alcantara material does not appear. Let’s count the two as a tie. In addition, I tend to prefer light main colors for the interior colors of both cars. Although they are not as stain-resistant as black and gray, they do look more upscale.
After talking about materials, let’s talk about the line design of the interior. NIO ES8 adopts a symmetrical design. The central vertical central control screen + through-type air-conditioning outlet are not new elements. The mobile phone wireless charging pad + two cup holders occupy the central control. Generally speaking, it is easy to use, wide and layered. Comparatively clear. Cadillac LYRIQ is more individual. Although the lines are still Cadillac’s enveloping cockpit + shield-shaped center console, the metal material + piano paint + wood grain veneer are also carefully matched, and the curved screen adds a sense of technology. It's really good, and the armrest box is also shaped. Generally speaking, the NIO ES8 is stable and the Cadillac LYRIQ is full of personality.
Next, let’s talk about the vehicle system part that is very important to new energy models. Why is it important? Because this part is the embodiment of "technological content". In terms of hardware, NIO ES8 uses a combination of 9.8-inch full LCD instrument + 11.3-inch central control screen, and the car’s engine chip uses Nvidia X1.
The size and chip both reveal the word "old". After all, the time has come to 2022, and the Nvidia X1, which was very powerful 5 years ago, is now somewhat powerless. The size of the two screens is not large at the moment. What gives it good reviews is that the optimization of the entire system is well done, and the logic is more in line with the logic of digital products. At least there is no learning cost for people under the age of 35.
Although there is no advantage in terms of hardware, in terms of experience, I have been exposed to NIO ES8 and ES6 for a lot of time in the past, and the experience can be called excellent. With NIO's NOMI, in terms of system UI design and functional logic, , interaction and other aspects are still the first echelon at present, which is very consistent with everyone's current operating experience of using digital products, especially the UI interface, which contains a lot of "fruit".
The Cadillac LYRIQ is equipped with a surround-screen Super Retina screen with an officially claimed 9K resolution. Some consumers may not understand the following parameters, but friends who are interested in computers and mobile phones will probably know it. The specific resolution of this screen is 8960*1320px, the bit depth is 10bit, the color gamut coverage reaches 110% of the NTSC color gamut, the dynamic contrast ratio is 100000:1, and the pixel density is 271PPI. Since the refresh rate is not mentioned, I Guess it's regular 60Hz.
Most of the parameters used are TV standards., after all, there is no need for car screens to pursue the color accuracy of computer monitors and the refresh rate of mobile phone screens. For friends who don’t know much about it, they probably know that they are awesome, at least they are rare at the moment.
(Some parameters of Qualcomm smart cockpit chip)
In terms of automotive chips, Cadillac LYRIQ uses the Qualcomm 8155 chip, a 7-nanometer process, which is also the current mainstream high-end automotive chip, derived from Qualcomm's third-generation smart cockpit. It definitely has an advantage over Nvidia X1 in terms of performance, but NIO also said that it will have a smart cockpit upgrade plan for the old ES8 in the future.
The LYRIQ car-machine system shot this time is not the final delivery version, so some functions may be adjusted. The in-vehicle system used by Cadillac LYRIQ has not yet appeared on other GM models. The entire vehicle is built based on the VCS smart cockpit. Cadillac has previously released images of the LYRIQ in-vehicle system, which has UI aspects such as maps and LCD instruments. Made significant upgrades.
(The demo source is 4K quality)
The map is in a virtual 3D style and looks very advanced. The LCD instrument also adds Tesla-like out-of-car sensing results, but I don’t know if it can perform real-time modeling of other vehicles and lane line detection results in the outside world. The dark background and thin fonts are more in line with the current popular UI aesthetic, and combined with the excellent screen display, I personally look forward to it.
Of course, the richness of the system’s applications and playability determine the experience gap between the two cars. We at NIO know that the system is based on Android and is currently mainstream. NOMI’s playability is also very High, and LYRIQ may make people a little worried. The app store is not yet open, but it supports functions such as mini program expansion.
Configuration & Driving Assistance Functions: LYRIQ has rich standard features and Weilai needs cash capabilities
After talking about the interior, let’s take a look at the configuration of the two cars. The Cadillac LYRIQ dual-motor four-wheel drive version is currently the top-of-the-line version of the LYRIQ car series. The Weilai ES8 580km six-seater is considered the second-highest model of the car series. Let’s talk about the configuration differences in general.
First of all, in terms of safety configuration, the two are basically at the same level, with 6 airbags + L2 driving assistance function. The L2 driving assistance function that comes standard with the Weilai ES8 is not as complete and easy to use as the new generation Super Cruise that comes standard with the Cadillac LYRIQ. However, as long as you are willing to pay more, Weilai can provide an auxiliary package with more complete functions. However, it is somewhat inappropriate that this version of Weilai ES8 is not equipped with adaptive cruise, so basically everyone will choose this configuration.
Other comfort configurations, such as panoramic images, panoramic sunroof, induction trunk, and front seatsBoth cars have heating and other functions, but LYRIQ provides more: such as front seat ventilation, massage, rear seat heating, steering wheel heating, etc. In terms of audio that luxury brands focus on, LYRIQ is also more generous. I was given a 19-speaker AKG audio system. The configuration of Weilai ES8 can only be considered quite satisfactory, and the optional options are very rich. However, if the price of all options goes straight to 600,000, the price/performance ratio is not high.
In addition, let’s talk about the automatic driving assistance function. This part is also of concern to many consumers. As mentioned earlier, the L2 driving assistance function that comes standard with the NIO ES8 is not as complete and easy to use as the new generation Super Cruise that comes standard with the Cadillac LYRIQ. After all, it does not even have adaptive cruise.
After adding 15,000 yuan, NIO ES8 can reach a level similar to LYRIQ, and after adding 39,000 yuan to choose the NIO Pilot full package, it can surpass LYRIQ. To put it simply, the new generation of Super Cruise that comes standard with LYRIQ is still a conventional L2 driving assistance system, which can realize hands-free and centered driving on high-speed sections. Although it supports full hands-free driving, it still cannot realize autonomous overtaking and lane changing functions. ES8 can realize NOP pilot assisted driving under the "money" capability, which is definitely a stronger experience than ACC.
Power & battery life comparison: the two cars are basically the same
In terms of power, the book parameters of the two cars are very similar. In fact, this is also the dilemma faced by many brands currently. The power of the electric motor is relatively easy to come by. Both cars are equipped with dual motors at the front and rear. The NIO ES8's motor has a total power of 400 kW and a total torque of 725 N·m; the LYRIQ's motor has a total power of 375 kW and a total torque of 710 N·m. The official acceleration time of both cars to 100 kilometers is 4.9 seconds.
As for the battery, the ES8 uses a 100 kWh ternary lithium battery with a NEDC pure electric cruising range of 580km; the LYRIQ battery capacity is slightly smaller at 95.7 kWh, but the pure electric cruising range reaches 600km, which is CLTC operating conditions. We have explained the difference between CLTC and NEDC test standards before. LYRIQ’s CLTC 600km level is slightly less than ES8’s NEDC 580km level, which is basically at the same level.
If we have the opportunity in the future, we will conduct a 120km high-speed endurance test on the two cars. This result will be more instructive for everyone. After all, everyone's concerns about the endurance of electric cars are mainly in winter and high-speed scenarios. In addition, the last thing to say is that the endurance test must be conducted under the same working conditions, otherwise it will have no reference significance.
Since this is just a static comparison and does not involve dynamic performance, I will just make a simple evaluation of the two cars based on the hardware parameters: Since electric cars do not have a gearbox structure,Therefore, the power output is simple and violent, and the acceleration capabilities of the two cars are basically the same. There is no gap in performance in this aspect, and even if there is a difference, it is very small. The current dynamic differences between electric vehicles mainly focus on chassis performance and battery life. From the perspective of chassis hardware, the NIO ES8 has an air suspension, which is more focused on comfort; the LYRIQ uses front and rear dual five-links, and the hardware will pay more attention to control.
Full text summary: Weilai ES8 is an old model and has only experienced one minor facelift so far. Many attributes actually lag behind current new cars. I personally think that LYRIQ is still a product worth looking forward to. Of course, If I were to give a purchasing opinion, I would suggest that it would be more prudent to go back and examine the LYRIQ model a year and a half after the first owners picked up the car. Judging from the current popularity, LYRIQ will be much higher than ES8, but whether it can be converted into sales in the end depends on the actual product strength.