Xiaomi has shattered the Nurburgring
record for a four-door car with the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Prototype and, at an event
in Beijing, has also unveiled the production version of the flagship SU7. If
you needed any more proof of how serious the consumer electronics giant is at
tackling the fastest EVs on the planet, this is it. First, the ‘Ring run.
Xiaomi chief executive Lei Jun hinted at the achievement on social media,
revealing the EV had lapped the circuit in just 6:46.874. It’s since been
confirmed that with British driver David Pittard behind the wheel – who won the
2023 24 Hours of the Nurburgring – the SU7 Ultra Prototype did indeed lay down
the gauntlet with that impressive time. This makes the car more than 20 seconds
quicker than the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
Making the time all the more impressive is
that it was achieved on a single attempt. Additionally, the car lost power for
roughly 10 seconds, a moment which can be seen at around 4:15 in the video. Had
that not happened, it would have been even quicker. At a presentation to
confirm the car’s Nurburgring feat, Xiaomi also lifted the veil on the
production model. It’s unclear why the road-going model wasn’t the car that
tackled Green Hell, but it promises much of the same performance credentials as
the prototype, although it’s not quite as extreme.
Like the prototype, the SU7 Ultra features
a trio of electric motors delivering 1,526 hp. This system consists of two of
Xiaomi’s flagship V8s motors and one V6s motor. It gives the car a significant
power advantage over the Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire. Xiaomi
says it can hit 100 km/h in just 1.98 seconds without a one-foot
rollout, rocket to 200 km/h in 5.86 seconds, and power through until 350 km/h.
Providing these motors with their juice is
a CATL Qilin 2.0 battery and despite the extreme focus on performance, the car
is said to have 630 km of range on the generous CLTC cycle. Xiaomi
has extensively upgraded the cooling systems of the SU7 to make it home on a
race track, improving the performance of the compressor, water pump, cooling
fan, and radiator. It can reportedly complete two consecutive laps of the
Nurburgring without overheating. Any four-door sedan with over 1,500 hp needs
some serious brakes, and the SU7 Ultra ticks that box, too. It comes standard
with carbon ceramic discs at all four corners and can stop from 62 mph in just 30.8 m. The front discs are a massive 16.9 inches (430 mm) and are
the largest carbon discs of any current production sedan. Akebono has supplied
the brake calipers, consisting of six-piston units at the front and four-piston
units at the rear.
Xiaomi has
fitted new dual-chamber air springs and dampers, or should customers prefer,
the SU7 Ultra can be equipped with Bilstein Evo T1 coilovers offering 10 levels
of compression and rebound adjustment. Complex torque vectoring is also
standard and can adjust power from the motors at up to 500 times per second. Visually,
you’ll notice the production-ready SU7 Ultra is not as extreme as the
prototype. It lacks that car’s motorsport-spec rear wing and has a smaller
spoiler. The front end is also more restrained but does stand out from lesser
versions of the electric sedan thanks to a new splitter and enlarged air
intakes. Other upgrades include an active rear diffuser that adjusts while
driving and new skirts. The car delivers up to 285 kg of downforce.
Several interior enhancements complete the
package. These include a newly-designed steering wheel with a flat top and flat
bottom, a 12 o-clock marker, and is wrapped in Alcantara with carbon fiber
accents. The wheel also includes a bright red Boost button. Elsewhere, shoppers
will find new Alcantara parts adorning the cabin, and the UI of the instrument
cluster, head-up display, and infotainment display have also been customized
for a sportier look. An app dubbed Racetrack Master has also been added and
allows drivers to record their lap sessions and view key performance parameters
on the move.
The first customer deliveries are
scheduled for March 2025. Prices start at 814,900 yuan (US$ 114,000), and in the
first 10 minutes after the car’s release, Xiaomi had received 3,680 refundable
deposits.