Never Settling Down: Xiaomi Prepares a More Extreme Version of the SU7 for a New Record

A prototype of a new top-spec version of the Xiaomi SU7 sports saloon, featuring an aggressive aerodynamic body kit, has been spotted on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It is highly likely that the Chinese company will attempt to set a new record in the executive electric car class.

Chinese electric cars have become regulars at the Nürburgring, striking fear into the petrol-powered veterans of the legendary 20.832-kilometre circuit. The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra sports saloon (pictured in the main photo) set a Nürburgring record in the executive electric car class last year with a time of 7 minutes 04.957 seconds, but this year it was beaten by the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Manthey Kit, which clocked 6 minutes 55.533 seconds. It has recently emerged that the Chinese are not prepared to surrender the top spot without a fight and are preparing a new assault on Porsche.

A new version of the Xiaomi SU7 has been spotted on the Nordschleife, wrapped in camouflage and sporting an aggressive aerodynamic body kit in the style of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Prototype, which lapped the circuit in 6 minutes 22.091 seconds last year. There are even faster cars in the prototype class: first place belongs to the hybrid Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo with a lap time of 5 minutes 19.546 seconds — this is the absolute record for the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Beating this record in an electric car is unlikely, but in the production electric car class, Xiaomi has every chance of returning to the top spot.

Photos of the new version of the Xiaomi SU7 can be viewed on the website of the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport. They show that the Chinese sports saloon has gained a new front bumper with prominent side aerodynamic elements, ventilation 'grilles' on the front wings, a large adjustable rear wing on the boot lid, and a heavily sculpted rear bumper with large 'blades' in the integrated diffuser. Whether the power output of the powertrain will be increased is not yet known. For reference, the three-motor powertrain of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra produces 1,548 bhp, allowing it to reach 62 mph from a standstill in 1.98 seconds, with a top speed of 217 mph.

We should add that this year, the 1,003 bhp Xiaomi YU7 GT became the fastest SUV at the Nürburgring, with a lap time of 7 minutes 22.755 seconds.

The best time in the electric supercar class belongs to the Chinese Yangwang U9 Xtreme, with over 3,000 bhp — 6 minutes 59.157 seconds.

The freshly unveiled Denza Z electric sports car will also attempt to set a new Nürburgring record in its most extreme, yet-to-be-revealed version, producing around 2,000 bhp.