We no longer count electric cars that exceed the symbolic 1000 hp mark, from the Tesla Model S Plaid through the Lynk&Co Zero and the Porsche Taycan GT to the Lucid Air Sapphire. Completely worthless, these cars are still very important image vectors for the manufacturers.
With the SU7 Ultra, with 1,547 hp, available for pre-order for a few days, it’s Xiaomi’s turn to shake up the lineup. However, the Chinese manufacturer wanted to show that it is not content to provide excessive power, but rather that it is usable. To do this, in Germany, nothing better than a short ride on the demanding North Loop of the famous Nürburgring.
A record, quite simply
Recently, the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (1,034 hp) took the title of fastest electric on the track in 7:07.55 at the expense of the Tesla Model S Plaid (1,020 hp) which found itself 18 seconds behind.
The title now goes to the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra driven by British driver David Pittard who completed one lap in just 6:46.874. However, please note that this is a prototype and not a production version.
However, this time was only achieved in one attempt and as we can see at minute 4:15 of the video below, the pilot suffered a power loss of about ten seconds. If it wasn’t, it would be even faster.
During a presentation to confirm the feat at the Nürburgring, Xiaomi took the wraps off the production model. So it is not the latter that faced the Greenhill, although it promises a performance very close to the prototype, without the limitations. Here, we don’t know what tires were used, nor anything about the chassis settings.
Like the prototype, the SU7 Ultra is equipped with three electric motors that deliver 1,547 hp, or about 50% more power than the Model S Plaid and Taycan Turbo GT. Xiaomi claims that it can reach 100 kmph in just 1.98 seconds and 200 kmph in 5.86 seconds to 350 kmph.
These motors are powered by a CATL Qilin 2.0 battery that allows a range of 630 km on the very generous CLTC cycle (count 20% less on the WLTP cycle).
A very special model
To make the car so efficient, the hi-tech giant equips its sedan with 430 mm carbon-ceramic brake discs, with six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the rear.
The improvement doesn’t stop there. Xiaomi has fitted dual-chamber air suspension and shock absorbers, or if customers prefer, the SU7 Ultra can be equipped with Bilstein Evo T1 coilovers that offer 10 levels of adjustment. Finally, torque vectoring can adjust the power of motors up to 500 times per second.
Visually, the stock SU7 Ultra isn’t as extreme as the prototype. It lacks the racing rear wing and has a small spoiler. The front end is also softer, but stands out from the lower version with a new splitter, increased air intakes and an active rear diffuser.