The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra EV has been launched – and has already set speed records
- SU7 Ultra sets record for fastest four-door EV
- It has the largest carbon disc brakes of any production sedan
- Will be delivered to the first customers next year
Xiaomi’s debut SU7 electric vehicle was a big success for the Chinese smartphone maker, but it doesn’t prove it’s the master at creating a sales rush in its domestic market.
Xiaomi founder, chairman and CEO Lei Jun unveiled the SU7 Ultra prototype at an annual conference in July this year and has repeatedly taken to China’s main social media platform Weibo to express his project’s performance goals.
At Germany’s infamous Nürburgring, which has become the global benchmark for lap times for performance cars, the four-door EV managed a time of 6:46.874 – a whopping 20 seconds faster than the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
It’s a huge undertaking for any automaker, let alone one that has more experience with smartphones and consumer technology.
According to Lei Jun, the record was achieved in just one lap with British endurance rider David Pittard behind the wheel – a one-time wonder, if you like.
According to the onboard video footage, which can be viewed on YouTube (or just click above), the SU7 Ultra temporarily lost power around two-thirds of the way through the ride. If this accident had not occurred, the lap time would have been even more impressive.
Accessible performance
Far from simply a PR stunt, the 1,526 hp Xiaomi SU7 Ultra with three motors will join the rest of the lineup and enter production early next year. It’s expected to cost 814,900 Chinese Yuan – or about $114,000/£88,000/AU$174,000 – but like the rest of Xiaomi’s EV range will only be available for sale in China.
It’s a phenomenal car for the money and the spec sheet reads like a car enthusiast’s Christmas list: carbon-ceramic brakes, a 0-60mph sprint time of 1.98 seconds, a top speed of 217mph, adjustable Bilstein suspension and an interior dripping with carbon fiber and Alcantara.
While the production model won’t be as aggressive as the vehicle that took to the Nürburgring, it will still feature a rear spoiler, a revised front splitter with huge air intakes and an active rear diffuser for extra downforce.
It’s no surprise that the Chinese smartphone maker received 3,680 deposits in the first 10 minutes of the car’s release, according to Car shoveling.