Xiaomi sent its new YU7 GT around the Nordschleife and walked away with a lap time of 7 minutes 34.931 seconds. That run beat the Audi RS Q8 Performance by almost two seconds and left the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT Coupé behind as well.
Ren Zhoucan, the chief test driver, took the wheel for the official record attempt, becoming the first Chinese driver to get complete Nürburgring lap certification. On the lap, the car reached 185 mph at one point while maintaining its calm over the track’s renowned rapid sweepers and sharp elevation changes, as none of them knocked it off course.
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The power comes from the dual electric motors, with one up front producing 386 horsepower and the other in the back producing 603 horsepower, for a total output of 990. Where does all of that go? Straight to all four wheels, no surprises, and drives the two-and-a-half-ton machine to its controlled top speed of 186 mph.
The energy source is a 101.7-kilowatt-hour CATL battery. It uses high-tech ternary lithium cells and promises to have a range of 438 miles on the Chinese test cycle. Despite the large battery, the developers were able to retain the curb weight at 5,423 pounds, ensuring that the SUV handles smoothly.
Don’t even get me started on the tires, which are quite wide. The front pair spans 265 millimeters across, while the rears measure 295 millimeters and are wrapped around 21-inch wheels. In the middle, Brembo carbon-ceramic brake discs handle all of the braking from high speeds with no fade visible. A track package includes a roll cage and suspension software modifications that stiffen the ride when the driver needs faster reflexes.
Xiaomi designed the chassis and aerodynamics, with assistance from several European specialists who are well familiar with the Nordschleife. Anyway, there’s a lovely subtle ducktail spoiler and rear diffuser that manage airflow at high speeds while also keeping the brakes and motors cool; all of this is entirely production-ready, so the car that set the record looks nearly identical to the ones you can purchase.
The cost… well, that’s the icing on top. Xiaomi plans to charge around 400,000 yuan in China, which is approximately $58,000. Which is a lot of money, but far less than Audi or Porsche charge for their top versions, and the YU7 GT also has more straight-line speed and a faster lap time.
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