Quick Reads:
- The Chinese SUV set a lap time of 7:34.931 seconds
- This new Xiaomi SUV beat Audi and Porsche on their own turf
- The YU7’s dual-motor electric motor produces around 728 kW (990 hp)
Xiaomi has officially added another major Nurburgring record to their list of achievements for its EV lineup. The upcoming YU7 GT SUV lapped the Nurburgring Nordeschleife in just 7 minutes and 34.931 seconds, which is about 1.76 seconds faster than the Audi RS Q8 Performance’s 7 minutes 36.69 seconds.
The YU7 dethroned the Audi RS Q8, and also pushed the Porsche Cayenne Turbo further down the leaderboard, making the achievement even more significant for the Chinese automaker, as it is fairly new to the automotive industry when compared to these legacy manufacturers. What was once primarily a smartphone and consumer electronics brand is now making even the best of the automakers sweat. And, doing it on Nurburgring makes it that much more special, as it is one of the most demanding racetracks in the world.
The record-setting YU7 was driven by Xiaomi’s Chief Test Driver Ren Zhoucan. This is also one of the first officially recognised laps on the Nurburgring Nordechliefe set by a Chinese driver. And, the exciting news – the YU7 is all set to launch soon, but in the Chinese market.
While the news is quite impressive, the YU7 GT’s spec sheet is even more dramatic. The new electric SUV is expected to be driven by a dual-motor setup with an all-wheel drive system. The combined output from the electric motors is around 728 kW or 990 hp, which is very impressive. To power this powerful motor, Xiaomi has put a 101.7 kWh battery pack in the YU7 GT, which is capable of giving a CLTP (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) range of up to 705 km. The claimed top speed is also around 300 kmph, which for an SUV is honestly frantic.
Also, the record-breaking car was also equipped with the optional Track package, which adds upgraded brakes, tyres, aerodynamic improvements, and suspension tuning for utmost control when pushing the car around corners.
Our Opinion
While this might not be Xiaomi’s first Nurburgring headline, it is an important one, though. Earlier, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra electric sedan set the record for being the fastest production EV around the legendary track, and now this new record proves that the Chinese brand is here to stay, and deliver consistent performance.
Whether enthusiasts fully embrace this shift or not, the brand clearly wants to prove that it has to be taken seriously, when it comes to high-performance machines, and not a tech company playing around with cars.
