This Chinese EV Sport Sedan Just Lapped the 'Ring in 6:46
In the span of less than a year, Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has quickly raised itself from one of many new electric vehicle builders to a name worth remembering. The basic Porsche Taycan-like SU7 sedan is already a hit with Ford CEO Jim Farley, but the performance-oriented SU7 Ultra is going one step further by taking on the Taycan's most notable record — the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
In a video shared shortly after the car's launch, the SU7 Ultra seems to obliterate the records for both four-door and series production EV models with a time of 6:46.87. Not only is the time handily quicker than the Taycan Turbo GT's still-official four-door and series production EV record of 7:07.55, it beats out the current generation of 911 GT3. All of that happens despite the car appearing to briefly lose power completely in the middle of the lap, around the 4:15 mark of the on-board video.
While the SU7's lap is astonishing, it's not necessarily a fair comparison with the Porsche. For the record, Xiaomi is not claiming a production record with the run — just a goal of accomplishing that feat in the future. That suggests a run completed on something other than road-legal tires, and the spartan interior suggests some generous weight savings beyond the production-intent car. Both go some way to explaining the unbelievable 6 minute 46 second lap time — but the car's impressive technical specs explain most of that pace.
Xiaomi claims that the Ultra will have an output of 1527 hp, a top speed of 217 miles per hour, and peak downforce of 628 pounds, with the help of a fixed rear wing. All three eclipse the ultimate Taycan, as does the Chinese automaker's claimed 0-60 mph sprint of under two seconds. Whether or not the final record run actually winds up 20 seconds clear of Porsche's best, the SU7 Ultra may still wind up be the fastest four-door to ever hit a track.
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