Xiaomi is making a sensational entry into the automobile market with its SU7, SU7 Pro and SU7 Max, three electric sports sedans that promise high-end performance at an attractive price. The enthusiasm is already there, but can the brand really establish itself in such a competitive segment?
Xiaomi continues to diversify. Already renowned for its smartphones, connected objects of all kinds, light household appliances and electric scooters, the Chinese manufacturer is now launching into the automobile industry. With the SU7, Xiaomi has chosen an electric sedan with an aggressive quality-price ratio, which directly competes with the Tesla Model S, or even the Porsche Taycan. Technical specifications, design, prices, availability… find out everything we know about the Xiaomi SU7.
Is the Xiaomi SU7 available in France?
After presenting its SU7 during MWC 2024 in Barcelona, Xiaomi finally launched pre-orders for its sedan at the end of March 2024. For now, the manufacturer is focusing on the Chinese market, the only territory where it is officially possible to acquire the electric vehicle at the moment. Less than half an hour after the launch, 50,000 pre-orders had already been made. After 36 hours, the vehicles were already out of stock: the 120,000 Xiaomi SU7s from the initial batch had found buyers. The first deliveries are scheduled for the end of April 2024 for the Standard and Max models and the end of May 2024 for the Pro version.
In the event of commercial success, the manufacturer could consider making the SU7 available internationally, in its current form or in a revised version. It is entirely possible to see the Xiaomi SU7 arrive in France, which is attracting more and more major players in the Chinese automobile industry. BYD arrived in France with several models of electric cars in 2023, while Zeekr (owned by the giant Geely) is expected by the end of 2024.
How much does the Xiaomi SU7 cost?
Xiaomi has communicated the Chinese prices of the three versions of its SU7:
- SU7 : 215,900 yuan (or approximately 27,640 euros)
- SU7 Pro : 245,900 yuan (or approximately 31,483 euros)
- SU7 Max : 299,900 yuan (or approximately 38,386 euros)
If the sedans arrive in France, it is certain that their price will be higher than the simple conversion from the yuan to the euro, in particular because of taxes, but also logistics. Note that these are price for series modelsdrivers having the choice of adding various options increasing the bill: an accessory to compartmentalize the storage in the trunk, a tailor-made sun visor, a cotton and suede headrest, or even a microphone for singing along. karaoke via the infotainment system.
The announced prices seem very aggressive in any case, and Lei Jun (founder and director of Xiaomi) himself admits that the company will not make money with this first vehicle. The objective is above all to convince consumers and establish Xiaomi as a serious automobile brand in the minds of customers.
A design reminiscent of the Porsche Taycan
Xiaomi is banking on a sporty look for its SU7, with sleek and sleek lines as well as a fastback body, which conveys an impression of aggression and speed. This type of design, in which the roof line descends continuously to the trunk and to the bumper, has become increasingly trendy again in recent years. The Xiaomi SU7 also looks like a Porsche Taycan.
Designed by former experts from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, the SU7 is based on a new in-house architecture called “Modern”. One of the major challenges for Xiaomi designers and engineers was to combine aesthetics and the lowest possible wind resistance. For this, they were inspired by the shape of water drops, but also by the ripple created by a drop falling into water. The 175 degree curved surface was designed to produce a homogeneous visual sensation between light and shadow. The Xiaomi teams tried to generate “a dynamic, lively and energetic beauty”. With this design, Xiaomi achieved a drag coefficient of just 0.195, a record. The Tesla Model S Plaid, for example, has a drag coefficient of 0.208.
The dimensions of the Xiaomi SU7 are as follows: 4,997 mm in length, 1,963 mm in width, 1,440 mm in height and a wheelbase (distance between the front and rear axle) of 3,000 mm. Despite its size, the electric sedan has a rather short turning radius of 5.7 meters, making maneuvering easier. Undoubtedly aware of the criticisms leveled at Tesla’s Yoke steering wheels, the manufacturer opted for a fairly traditional circular steering wheel, of course including a good number of controls, including two easily accessible physical buttons.
The front trunk capacity is 105 liters, which is more generous than the 89 liters of the trunk of a Tesla Model S or the 84 liters of that of a Porsche Taycan, for example. At the rear, Xiaomi announces a volume of 517 liters. The body of the vehicle is available in three colors: Aqua Blue, Mineral Gray and Verdant Green. For the interior, consumers have the choice between gray, red and black. For the exterior as well as the interior, new colors are to be offered in the future.
What is the performance of the Xiaomi SU7?
The Xiaomi SU7 and SU7 Pro rely on engine power by propulsion, that is to say transmitted to the rear wheels, and develop 220 kW. They can reach up to 210 km/h and go from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.28 and 5.7 seconds respectively. The SU7 Max model is based on a mechanism with all-wheel drive and produces a power of 495 kW. It is capable of reaching 265 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.78 seconds.
Xiaomi has developed a motor reaching up to 21,000 revolutions per minute and a power of 6.78 kW/kg. Two variants are offered:
- The Xiaomi HyperEngine V6 with 299 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque which equips the SU7 and SU7 Pro
- The Xiaomi HyperEngine V6s with 374 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque found on the SU7 Max (dual-motor architecture for maximum power of 673 hp and maximum torque of 838 Nm)
A Xiaomi HyperEngine V8 at 27,200 rpm, 578 horsepower and maximum torque of 635 Nm must also be ready for 2025. The manufacturer is also working on another motor with carbon fiber laser winding, which targets 35,000 rpm .
A high-performance brake system has been integrated, allowing the vehicle to come to a complete stop over a distance of 33.3 meters while braking at 100 km/h.
What is the autonomy of the Xiaomi SU7?
In addition to performance, Xiaomi aims to stand out by controlling the consumption of its electric cars and offering significant autonomy. Here are the details communicated by the brand for the three models of its SU7:
- Xiaomi SU7: 700 km in Chinese CLTC cycle, i.e. approximately 625 km in the WLTP mixed cycle73.6 kWh battery
- Xiaomi SU7 Pro: 830 km in Chinese CLTC cycle, i.e. approximately 740 km in the WLTP mixed cycle94.3 kWh battery
- Xiaomi SU7 Max: 810 km in Chinese CLTC cycle, i.e. approximately 715 km in the WLTP mixed cycle101 kWh battery
The autonomy announced here corresponds to the rim and tire options allowing the best endurance. Depending on the choice of wheels, the autonomy may therefore vary. For the SU7 Max for example, the largest rims (21 inches) fitted with Pirelli P-Zero sports tires, providing excellent handling, reduce the CLTC range to 725 kilometers, or around 650 kilometers depending on the cycle. mixed WLTP.
The Xiaomi SU7 and SU7 Pro can recover 350 km of range in 15 minutes on a fast charging station, but the exact power needed to achieve this result has not been specified. A short charge of just 5 minutes allows you to ride an additional 138 km. As for the Max model, the charging speed is even more impressive. If the conditions are met, 15 minutes of charging can grant 510 km of autonomy and 5 minutes saves 220 km. To obtain such performance, Xiaomi has opted for a high-voltage 800 V silicon carbide platform, supporting a maximum voltage of 871 V.
An accessory sold as an option makes the vehicle compatible with bidirectional charging, the SU7’s CTB (Cell-to-Body) battery can then serve as a power source. The LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) cells of the battery are integrated into the chassis of the electric car, saving space. Xiaomi announces an efficiency of 77.8% for its batteries, a very good performance considering the technology used.
Equipment, software and functionalities
The Xiaomi SU7 features a 7.1-inch digital dashboard, a 56-inch augmented reality head-up display system and a large 16.1-inch central touchscreen infotainment screen with 3K definition and 16:10 ratio. . This last one is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as with AirPlay. The manufacturer gives users the opportunity to install their own Xiaomi or iPad tablets on the back of the front seats to benefit passengers seated in the rear. The tablets are then connected to the central system to control the music, or adjust the rear seats.
A wireless charging station of up to 50 watts and several additional charging slots allow all occupants to ensure that they always have their mobile well charged. The glove box is designed to accommodate a laptop PC. Surprise, a 4.6-liter mini refrigerator is included in the cabin to keep some drinks and food cool.
The on-board computer is powered by a Snapdragon 8295 SoC on the hardware side, and by HyperOS, Xiaomi’s new operating system which will be integrated into all of the brand’s connected objects, at the software level. It stands out for the possible interactions with the manufacturer’s other devices under HyperOS, and in particular smartphones. As on mobile, personalization is essential. Apps can be dragged and resized on the home screen to create its own experience.
Xiaomi is also developing its in-house autonomous driving technology, called Xiaomi Pilot. This system is powered by two Nvidia Drive Orin chips, which carry out calculations from the information recorded by the various sensors included in the electric sedan: HD cameras, millimeter wave radar, ultrasonic radar, and LiDAR on the roof.