Nio firefly is China's biggest rival to the mini

Some cars are inspired by apex predators lunging at their prey in the wild.

- Lee Nian Tjoe

(Left) The Nio firefly looks and feels like a premium hatchback. (Right, above) A sizeable bin under the rear bench is useful for keeping valuables from prying eyes. (Right) Nio firefly's interior is simple and well-conceived. ST PHOTOS: ARIFFIN JAMAR

(ST PHOTOS: ARIFFIN JAMAR)

The Nio firefly seems to take its cue from something much closer to the hearts of folks in the city.Specifically, the triple-LED headlight clusters, which look like the trio of camera lenses on the back of the Apple iPhone 17 Pro.

And no, the rear of the car does not glow quite intensely like the beetle it is named after.

The Nio firefly is an upmarket electric hatchback aimed at the Mini.

With an overall length of 4,003mm, the firefly is shorter than its closest rival, the 4,079mm-long electric Mini Aceman. It is even shorter than the pint-size, petrol-powered five-door Mini Cooper, which measures 4,036mm.

The firefly is not the first Chinese car challenging the English brand, which is the king of chic, but comes closer to the mark than others with a convincingly premium design and engaging driving dynamics.

The car may be the work of a Chinese carmaker, but in look and feel, the firefly could be mistaken for a European hatchback. Someone used to the finest examples of a Volkswagen or Volvo will take to the firefly easily.

There is an almost timeless quality about the car's simple design, which is subtly sculpted along the flanks. Details like the consistently tight panel gaps give a sense of quality.

The European-inspired looks and upmarket finishing are consistent with Nio.

Founded in Shanghai in 2014, Nio wanted to be a global player fast. It opened a design centre in Munich, Germany, and set the lap record on the famed Nurburgring with its supercar.

Besides its battery-swopping technology, Nio also focused exclusively on left-hand-drive markets.