- A Xiaomi SU7 prototype is being tested at the Nürburgring
- The prototype could be a new track-focused iteration of the Chinese competitor Porsche Taycan
- Xiaomi may be trying to tackle the Porsche Taycan’s lap time
Smartphone giant Xiaomi launched its first car at the end of last year in shape of SU7a stylish electric sedan which shares a passing resemblance to the Porsche Taycan.
But instead of aiming low in its first automotive venture, Xiaomi appears to be aiming straight for the top.
Engineers from the Chinese company were caught testing on Nürburgring a prototype for what is considered a new track-focused version of the SU7, and the test vehicle seems to have everything it needs to keep up with the Taycan on the track.
Video footage of Car spy media shows the hardcore SU7 traveling very fast through some sectors of the Nürburgring. This suggests that the version on test may have more power than the 664 hp flagship announced at the SU7’s launch.
The prototype is also equipped with a fixed rear wing, whereas previously the SU7 was only shown with a retractable rear wing.
O flagship Taycan Turbo GT launched for 2025, which delivers up to 1,092 hp, also has a fixed rear wing, and with the available Weissach package, which incidentally removes the rear seats, the car managed to lap the ‘Ring in a time of just 7:07.55. That’s painfully close to the 7:05:298 lap record for production EVs in the ‘Ring set by the Rimac Nevera hypercar.
The largest battery offered on the SU7 is a 101 kWh unit, although Xiaomi has indicated that it plans to offer larger battery options. There will be approximately 132 and 150 kWh of capacity, and it is possible that one of them will also be installed in the prototype.
The regular SU7 is currently only available in China, where it costs about $30,000, or less than what a Tesla Model 3 sells for in that market. That’s for a single-engine, rear-wheel-drive version with 295 hp. Upgrading to the 664-horsepower dual-motor all-wheel-drive version costs about $41,500. Given the steep price, which Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said CNBC in an interview in March meant the company was losing money on every copy sold, the entire allocation for 2024 running out about 24 hours after sales began.