Do you remember the Xiaomi SU7? The Porsche Taycan-McLaren 720S-Tesla Model S lookalike EV sedan from China wearing a Xiaomi badge? It seems that Xiaomi is eager to prove the sporty credentials of its first electric car and they have chosen to go racing with it. Meet the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, which from the looks and the specs, seems better suited in the hands of a racing driver despite its smartphone-like name!
Some of the headline features on this one-off electric race car include one V6s and two V8s motors, a total power output of 1,548 hp, 520kW fast charging and wild aerodynamics.
Before you switch over to Google for clarity, the V8s and V6s are electric motors, not gasoline-powered internal combustion engines. Pretty cool names to lure conventional petrolheads who scoff at electric cars.
The SU7 Ultra is also rumoured to spawn a production version by 2025, says Xiaomi. For now, though, this SU7 Ultra prototype race car will attempt to break the lap record at Germany’s Nürburgring racetrack, hoping to dethrone anything made by Porsche, Tesla and other legacy EV brands.
If you find electric vehicles cool, then join us as we explore the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and all the possibilities it offers in the world of EV cars.
What do the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra specs suggest?
Simply put, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra is a wild evolution of the comfort-oriented SU7 sedan that aims to show what Xiaomi’s vehicle engineering team can do without adhering to regulations.
Although it is based on the standard SU7 sedan, the SU7 Ultra features a highly different body style with aggressive aerodynamics, which includes a low-slung front splitter, side skirts and a rear diffuser. The large rear wing and the massive aero scoops on the bonnet generate copious amounts of downforce to keep this electric racecar on the track, ensuring utmost grip.
I couldn’t be prouder of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype. This beast is born to battle for speed. Watch the video and feel the thrill with me!⚡️ pic.twitter.com/lcWraEewac
— Lei Jun (@leijun) July 22, 2024
It’s not just the aerodynamics that are insane. The body panels are made of carbon fibre and that helps in keeping the weight at a manageable 1,900 kg, which is quite light for an electric car. The high-performance AP Racing six-piston forged fixed callipers and race pads for the brakes allow the system to withstand up to 800 degrees Celsius of heat. Xiaomi says that the car can drop its anchor from 100 kph to a standstill in just 25 metres.
But is it any more powerful than the standard car?
It has enough power to tear the face of the Earth!
Xiaomi is using a trio of its proprietary electric motors to send power to all the wheels. The combination of V8s and V6s motors produces 1,548 hp, all of which allows this racecar to accelerate from 0-100 kph in 1.97 seconds and 0-200 kph in 5.96 seconds. Although race cars aren’t built for top speeds, this SU7 Ultra can reach 350 kph of top speed, which is on par with your average Ferrari and Lamborghini supercars.
Powering this performance goliath is the Kirin 2 battery, which is jointly developed by Xiaomi and CATL. The 897V battery pack is rated to produce 1,330 kW of power and even when the charge drops below 20 per cent, it can still output 800kW. Once the battery is depleted, it can be fully charged in less than 12 minutes.
Will the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra spell trouble for the Tesla Model S Plaid?
Although the SU7 Ultra is impressive on paper, what remains to be seen is whether this electric racecar can put down its performance on the track. The SU7 Ultra will have lots of competition from non-production electric concept cars at the Nürburgring.
The SU7 Ultra is expected to eventually introduce a competitor to the Tesla Model 3 Performance, Tesla Model S Plaid, and the Lucid Air Sapphire. Until then, this race car prototype is what we can use to fuel our imagination.
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(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Xiaomi)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Xiaomi SU7 can reach a top speed of 265 kph.
The Xiaomi SU7 starts with a base price of CNY 215,900 (approximately SGD 40,000).
