A MAJOR smartphone maker is readying one of the world’s fastest EVs – just months after unveiling their very first car.
Chinese electronics brand Xiaomi, who are best-known for their range of smartphones, entered the bold world of EVs back in March with its Speed Ultra 7, or SU7.
Now the ambitious brand is lining up the SU7 Ultra – a high-performance electric saloon with a top speed of 217mph and more power than a Bugatti Chiron, according to AutoExpress.
The SU7 Ultra will reportedly be fitted with three electric motors that can produce 1,526bhp in total.
The outrageous EV, which can also accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 1.97 seconds, is set to prove itself as the infamous Nurburgring racing circuit later this year, where it will look to break a record previously set by Porsche.
The German giants took the electric Porsche Taycan Turbo GT to the track in August 2023, where it completed a lap with a rather fast time of 7:07:55.
But Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra is said to have over 400bhp more power than the Taycan Turbo GT, and it’s also lighter by 334kg.
Xiaomi’s CEO, Lei Jun, shared pictures of the SU7 Ultra on social media earlier this week, where he announced it will be “taking on the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife.”
However, no date has been set for the run on the German circuit, which was once dubbed “the Green Hell” by legendary Grand Prix driver Jackie Stewart.
The Nurburgring Nordschleife, often called “The Green Hell,” is a renowned circuit in Germany. Opened in 1927, it features a challenging 20.8 km (12.9 mi) layout with 154 turns, winding through the Eifel mountains.
Initially built as a test and racing track, it has hosted numerous iconic races, including the German Grand Prix. Today, it remains a legendary venue for motorsport events, manufacturer testing, and public driving sessions.
Over the years, there have been many accidents and deaths at the track – even during public sessions. Jeremy Clarkson noted in Top Gear in 2004 that “over the years this track has claimed over 200 lives”.
Perhaps most famously, F1 champion Niki Lauda was left severely burned and near death after a crash at the circuit in 1976. His survival and remarkable comeback from the accident is considered one of the great tales of motorsport history.
Chinese manufacturers have taken to the famous track in the past, including Nio with their EP9 electric hypercar in 2017.
On that occasion, they achieved a time of 06:45.09 – although it was done using bespoke tyres which voided it from the production car lap record.
Xiaomi are aiming to shake up the electric car industry with bold plans to take on the world’s biggest brands.
At the SU7’s unveiling back in March, Lei Jun said: “Xiaomi wants to build a ‘dream car’ comparable to Porsche and Tesla.
“If we want to build good cars, we must seriously learn from these two best car manufacturers in the world.”
The all-electric car comes in three different specs; SU7, SU7 Pro and SU7 Max, with the base model managing 434 miles of range.
UK petrolheads interested in the SU7 may have to remain patient for its release overseas, as it’s not yet clear if Xiaomi will be selling its EV outside of China.
Meanwhile, back in June, we sent one of Sun Motors’ reporters to drive a lap around the legendary Nurburgring circuit and it nearly went horribly wrong.
And elsewhere, we recently listed some of the world’s fastest-charging EVs that you can buy right now.
