The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Prototype has a clear goal: to beat the Taycan Turbo GT as the fastest electric saloon on the Nürburgring.
Everyone had a classmate who asked them for their notes the day before an exam, copied them and got a better grade. That’s more or less what Xiaomi wants to do.
After being accused of copying the general lines and technological solutions of the Porsche Taycan, this Chinese brand known for manufacturing mobile phones now wants to beat the German brand in its own backyard: the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. The school where many brands come to teach their sports cars good manners and where Porsche was the best student.
Well, Xiaomi just announced that… SU7 Ultra prototypethe most radical version of the SU7 saloon and born with a purpose: to beat the “brown” Taycan Turbo GT in the “Green Hell”. Trust me, it offers a well-studied lesson…
one, two, three engines
To achieve this, Xiaomi has equipped the SU7 Ultra with three engines: two V8s and one V6s. Don’t worry, don’t confuse them with thermal engines. The SU7 is a 100% electric saloon and Xiaomi shows a sense of humor in giving its electric motors names that say a lot. Oil head.
The first two engines are the most powerful, each generating 425 kW (578 hp) and 635 Nm of torque. The maximum speed of these engines is 27,200 rpm. The closest thing to that is the legendary Hyundai IONIQ 5 N’s 22,000 rpm, Who was already here for Razão Automóvel.
In total, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra claims a combined maximum power of 1,139 kW, which equates to 1,548 hp – much more than the 1,108 hp of the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT or the 1,250 hp of the Lucid Air Sapphire.
This power is combined with a “modest” weight of 1,900 kg, thanks to the use of carbon fibre. All this translates into amazing acceleration: less than two seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h.
The battery uses LFP (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry and is integrated into an 897-volt electrical system developed by CATL specifically for competition vehicles.
It remains to be seen what the battery capacity and autonomy will be. However, we do know that the charging process takes only 12 minutes. So you don’t have to wait long to break the record…
Real athlete
Just by the appearance of the body, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype already tells you its intentions: to be fast. In addition to the three-meter wheelbase and more than five meters in length, the body is now 2,064 meters wide.
There is a front a The traitor It has a large size and huge air intakes. On the side there are very pronounced skirts and at the rear there is a huge fixed wing. In total, the SU7 Ultra can generate up to 2,145 kg of downforce.
Lesson #1: Speed and Brakes
In terms of mechanical components, it is necessary to highlight the presence of the AP Racing brake system for competition cars. It includes six-piston calipers at the front and rear and the pads can withstand more than 800 degrees Celsius.
Furthermore, to ensure braking power matches performance, the SU7 also uses an electric motor for braking and energy regeneration, with a maximum of 0.6G. With everything working together, Xiaomi’s prototype promises a maximum deceleration of 2.36G. In other words, at 100 km/h, the brand claims a braking distance of just 25 metres.
Target: Nürburgring-Nordschleife
An electric car with this level of preparation is capable of breaking records. Anything less is a defeat. Therefore, there is nothing better than the brands’ favorite “stubborn”: the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.
On this track, the time to beat is that of the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, which achieved a time of 7 minutes and 07.55 seconds, the fastest of any 100% electric four-door saloon. We’ll have to wait until October to see how much the SU7 Ultra is worth.
Despite the prototype status, Xiaomi intends to present the production version of the SU7 Ultra in 2025. Is it possible to produce and certify a saloon car with these characteristics? Xiaomi says yes. But some find it difficult to trust the student who was allegedly caught imitating…