The journey of Xiaomi into the automotive sector began nearly three years ago, in March 2021, when Lei Jun, the company's CEO and founder, announced a substantial investment of 10 billion yuan (1.4 billion USD) in car manufacturing. Fast forward to today, and the SU7's unveiling comes exactly 1000 days after this initial announcement. The company had previously set a goal to start mass production of the SU7 in the first half of 2024. Intriguingly, spy shots and testing videos of the SU7 started circulating online in late 2023, and in November of that year, Xiaomi applied for a sales license from the Chinese government, revealing key specifications of the vehicle.
Xiaomi SU7
The Xiaomi SU7 will be available in two variants: the standard SU7 and the advanced SU7 Max. The SU7 is rear wheel drive (RWD) and comes with Xiaomi's own engine, which produces 220 kW of power and 400 Nm of torque. This model can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.28 seconds and has a 73.6 kWh battery, offering a range of 668 km under the CLTC standard.
The SU7 Max, designed for higher performance, has all-wheel drive (AWD) and two engines delivering a maximum power of 425 kW and 838 Nm of torque. This model matches the acceleration and top speed of the standard version and can also go from 0 to 200 km/h in 10.67 seconds. It uses CATL's Qilin NMC battery with a capacity of 101 kWh, ensuring a range of 800 km according to the CLTC standard.
The SU7's battery charging capabilities are particularly impressive, surpassing the Tesla Model S Plaid. It can charge up to 390 km in just 10 minutes, 220 km in 5 minutes and 510 km in 15 minutes.
The SU7 has a highly aerodynamic design with a drag coefficient of just 0.195 Cd, making it one of the most streamlined production vehicles. Lei Jun pointed out that the lidar technology integrated into the top of the windshield was inspired by the sleek design of a pebble. However, the model that achieved the 0.195 Cd did not include the lidar feature.
In terms of size, the Xiaomi SU7 is slightly larger than the Porsche Taycan, measuring 4997/1963/1455 mm (L/W/H) with a 3000 mm wheelbase. It offers ample storage with a 105-liter front trunk and a 517-liter rear trunk.
Xiaomi SU7
The SU7's interior features a 16.1-inch central control screen with 3k resolution, a 7.1-inch driver's instrument panel, and two rear passenger screens that double as Mi Pads. The vehicle also has a 56-inch head-up display for navigation. The cockpit runs on HyperOS, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295, and the Xiaomi Pilot automated driving system uses two Nvidia Orin-X chips.
Xiaomi's driver assistance system, called Pilot, integrates various technologies including lidar, radar, HD cameras, and ultrasonic sensors to support highway driving and self-parking. City driving assistance will be available in over 100 Chinese cities by the end of 2024.
Before venturing into consumer electronics, Xiaomi initially focused on software, creating the MIUI Android ROM. Now, HyperOS will replace MIUI and become the operating system for Xiaomi's diverse range of products, including cars.
Xiaomi promises unparalleled connectivity and integration, especially with its own devices. The SU7 will be able to mirror devices such as phones and tablets, and seamlessly pair with Xiaomi watches, wristbands and home devices. Lei Jun assures that even users of Apple products will have a great experience with Xiaomi cars.
The SU7 aims to compete with the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S in China. Lei Jun has ambitious plans for Xiaomi, aiming to position the company among the top 5 global automakers within the next 15-20 years.
Xiaomi did not announce the price during the event. Lei Jun only commented: "Stop trolling, the car won't be priced at 140,000 yuan ($19,800), show some respect for the technology behind the car."
Source: Carneschina
