Xiaomi officially unveils the SU7 in China

Tech companies taking a dive into the automotive industry is common these days. Huawei, a global tech giant, has unveiled its electric vehicle called the Aito M9, a flagship SUV available in extended-range electric vehicle form or in a pure EV configuration. Meanwhile, another Chinese tech company called Xiaomi is one of the latest companies to take a leap into making cars with the launch of its four-door electric sedan called the SU7. Heading into the automotive industry with EVs will pit newbies like Xiaomi and Huwaei against established brands like BYD, and of course, Tesla.

The SU7, a sedan nicknamed "Speed Ultra" with the SU abbreviation, is a much-anticipated model highlighted by Chief Executive Lei Jun. He has promoted its "super electric motor" technology, claiming acceleration speeds surpassing those of Tesla cars and even Porsche's electric vehicles.

Starting with the exterior and dimensions, the Xiaomi SU7 is 4,997 mm long, 1,963 mm wide, and 1,455 mm tall. With an impressive wheelbase of 3,000 mm, it competes with luxury sedans in terms of size. The sleek sedan bears a smooth front end with what appears to be two air intakes flanking the sides and a large grille at the bottom part of the bumper. At the sides, the SU7 sits on five-spoke alloy wheels with a two-tone design and brake calipers painted in bright yellow. Another wheel design might be available for the SU7 as Xiaomi’s filing at China’s MIT mentions options for 19-inch and 20-inch wheels. 

At the back, the Xiaomi name is emblazoned on the trunk of the SU7, right on top of the car’s wrap-around LED taillights. Like the front, the rear bumper also has vents on the sides but we’re not sure what purpose they serve other than aesthetics for now. The bottom part of the bumper is colored black with two openings housing the reflectors are positioned beside the mounting point for the car’s plates.

Two variants will be available for Xiaomi’s first electric vehicle: the SU7 and SU7 Max. The SU7's base model features rear-wheel drive and incorporates Xiaomi's in-house developed electric motors which they market as the "HyperEngine V6 Series", delivering a maximum power of 295 hp and a torque of 400 Nm. Accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in just 5.28 seconds, it is equipped with a 73.6 kWh capacity battery, offering an impressive 668 km range according to the CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) standard.

The high-performance variant, the SU7 Max, will come with all-wheel drive and dual motors, generating 570 hp and 838 Nm of torque. Accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in just 2.78 seconds, it achieves a top speed of 265 km/h. Additionally, the EV can accelerate from 0 to 200 km/h in 10.67 seconds. Equipped with CATL's Qilin NMC battery with a capacity of 101 kWh, the SU7 Max delivers an impressive 800 km range.

On paper, the Xiaomi SU7 appears to be an impressive vehicle, however, it has to contend with a highly saturated EV market in China as well as other manufacturers. Time will tell if Xiaomi’s venture into the automotive world will be a fruitful one.