China Is Coming For Porsche’s Nürburgring Record

Key Takeaways

• Xiaomi reveals the SU7 Ultra prototype with a tri-motor setup offering 1,548 horsepower and blistering acceleration.
• The SU7 Ultra has been designed to shatter Nürburgring records.
• Upgraded performance includes uprated brakes, a sophisticated battery pack, carbon fiber body panels, and more.

Xiaomi, the world’s third-largest smartphone brand – and a prominent Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer – has revealed the SU7 Ultra, a track-focused variant of the SU7 sedan that debuted earlier this year. While still in the prototype stages, Xiaomi has lofty ambitions for the Ultra derivative, with plans to steal the lap record for electric series production vehicles at the Nürburgring.

The standard SU7 is no slouch, with up to 673 hp and 618 lb-ft of torque allowing it to reach 62 mph in less than 2.7 seconds. But the Ultra will be quicker still. A tri-motor setup – comprising one ‘V6’ and two ‘V8’ electric motors – offers a dizzying 1,548 hp. Xiaomi claims the SU7 Ultra will reach 62 mph in 1.97 seconds, with 124 mph coming up in 5.96 seconds. Acceleration is relentless, with 0-186 mph dispatched in 15.07 seconds. The SU7 Ultra tops out at 217 mph, which is faster than many supercars, as well as the Lucid Air Sapphire and the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.

Fully Electric, But Lighter Than The New BMW M5

Xiaomi’s latest prototype is relatively light for an electric vehicle, with a claimed mass of 4,188 lbs. That makes the SU7 Ultra 1,202 lbs lighter than the new BMW M5, which utilizes a plug-in hybrid setup. Xiaomi has achieved this featherweight mass using carbon fiber for all the exterior panels. As a result, the SU7 Ultra is around 1,100 lbs lighter than the road-going model.

The carbon fiber exterior panels include a new front splitter, rear diffuser, pronounced rear wing, and a guard plate for the internal motor. These aero enhancements improve the Ultra’s handling and dynamics. It generates 4,729 lbs of downforce, “enabling exceptional grip and stability during high-speed maneuvers.” These revisions have altered the dimensions slightly, with the Ultra measuring 10.4 inches longer, 3.9 inches wider, and 1.9 inches lower.

Uprated Brakes And A Sophisticated Battery Pack

Aside from the upgraded performance and new aero trickery, Xiaomi has improved stopping power with new AP Racing six-piston brake calipers, racing brake pads, and thicker discs. The company says the braking system can withstand plenty of torture – it can reportedly tolerate temperatures over 1,472 degrees Fahrenheit. With regenerative braking included, the system can now provide 2.36 G of decelerative force.

Xiaomi has co-developed the SU7 Ultra’s new battery with CATL. The pack has been designed for racing use and can reportedly be fully charged in less than 12 minutes. With a sophisticated 897-volt architecture, the battery pack can provide 1,330 kW of energy to all three electric motors and more than 880 kW even when the battery is on 20%. The automaker hasn’t revealed range figures as yet.

Built To Destroy Records

While Xiaomi plans to destroy some lap records, it also intends to introduce a road-going version of the Ultra to rival the Tesla Model S Plaid, Lucid Air Sapphire, and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. However, it will feature less dramatic aero parts. Pricing is yet to be revealed. Xiaomi is going after traditional rivals and fully-fledged electric hypercars such as the Rimac Nevera.

The Cars The Xiaomi SUV7 Ultra Has To Beat: