Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra Takes the Lead at Nurburgring
The Chinese electric vehicle market has been making waves among Western automakers, with companies like BYD, Zeekr, and NIO leading the charge. Xiaomi, known for its consumer electronics, entered the fray with its first car, the SU7, in March 2024. This $30,000 electric sports sedan quickly gained popularity, selling over 135,000 units in 2024. Notably, Ford CEO Jim Farley was so impressed that he used one and admitted he “couldn’t give it up” during a podcast.
Building on this success, Xiaomi launched the high-performance SU7 Ultra. Initially, a stripped-down prototype lapped the Nürburgring in 6:46.8, beating the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT and Rimac Nevera. Although the production version wasn’t as extreme, it still achieved an impressive lap time of 7:04.957, securing the title of fastest production EV at the Green Hell.
The SU7 Ultra’s performance is backed by a trio of electric motors producing 1,526 horsepower. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 1.98 seconds and reach a top speed of 217 mph. Xiaomi’s founder, Lei Jun, noted that the record-breaking car was driven by Vincent Radermecker and featured the optional “professional track package,” which includes upgrades like Bilstein EVO R coilovers and Pirelli P ZERO tires.
While the SU7 Ultra’s time is still far from the Mercedes-AMG One’s record of 6:29, it demonstrates China’s growing capabilities in the automotive industry. Xiaomi’s achievement challenges Western manufacturers, leaving the question of whether Tesla, Porsche, or Rimac will respond with an even faster car.
The success of the SU7 Ultra not only showcases Xiaomi’s engineering prowess but also signals a shift in the global automotive landscape. As Lei Jun stated, Xiaomi plans to continue pushing boundaries at Nürburgring, making progress alongside the world’s top automotive peers.
