Xiaomi will produce a prototype of its SU7 to take on the Nürburgring circuit. The brand wants to try to break the established records with a model with breathtaking performances. From this prototype will come a more civilized version for customers eager for performance.
Le gimmick d’Apple « one more thing ” has become a ritual at Xiaomi as well. Xiaomi boss Lei Jun waited until the end of his annual conference on July 19, 2024 to present a prototype of its SU7. It is specially prepared to face the most demanding circuit in the world, next October.
The manufacturer of high-tech objects definitely wants to show that it did not launch into the electric car business for fun. Isn’t Xiaomi biting off more than it can chew by promising a car with such high performance? The Nürburgring circuit in Germany is particularly demanding. Few electric cars can last 20 km at such a high speed, without breaking down or going off the road due to lack of brakes.
A racing car that will become a production car
While Elon Musk has been fooling customers and investors for years by promising a Tesla Roadster with stratospheric performance, Xiaomi is doing it. However, the company had never produced cars until 2024. This did not prevent the brand from launching its first electric car and finalizing a prototype in the same year. This SU7 Ultra prototype is derived from the production car of the same name, even if there is certainly not much left of the original.
Not all the technical details are known yet. The little that the Xiaomi boss announced on stage is enough to surprise positively:
- 1548 hp of combined power, more than a Bugatti Chiron
- V8s engine developed by Xiaomi (578 hp and 635 Nm of torque for one engine)
- High-performance battery, which can output up to 1330 kW of power and charges extremely quickly (5.2C)
- Brakes (AP racing) and racing disc resistant to very high temperatures (800°)
- 1,900 kg on the scale, thanks to a body made entirely of carbon fiber
- 2,145 kg of aerodynamic support, with the various additions (front blade, side air intake, wing, spoiler, etc.)
This fully prepared car for the circuit test is to serve to validate the performance of the V8S engine and perhaps break a record in the process. Chinese customers will then be able to buy the SU7 Ultra in a more civilized version from 2025.
0 to 100 km/h in less than 2 seconds
After the technical sheet, other figures are enough to glue the viewer to his seat. You will have to have a strong heart to be able to support the acceleration of this Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype:
- 0 to 100 km/h in 1.97 seconds,
- 0 to 200 km/h in 5.96 seconds,
- 0 to 300 km/h in 15.07 seconds,
- Maximum speed greater than 350 km/h.
These performances could allow Xiaomi to beat the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. However, it will not be enough to do better than the Rimac Neverra, with more than 1800 hp and 2 million euros, which is even stronger.
However, this Xiaomi could beat the Rimac on one figure: its braking distance to go from 100 to 0 km/h. The Xiaomi prototype would only need 25 m to stop, compared to 29 m for Rimac.
Xiaomi has set several models’ records at the Nürburgring. Now we’ll have to wait until October to see if the brand will be able to beat some historic marks.
Source: www.numerama.com
