The Chinese manufacturer is not shy and is very soon adding to its catalog a four-wheeled vehicle that is not lacking in interest.
When we talk about Xiaomi, we obviously think of its smartphones which are generally sold at rather aggressive prices. However, the brand logo is also present on many other types of devices, from robot vacuum cleaners to scooters and smart bowls.
So, which market will the Chinese giant target in the coming years? It seems that the bar has been set higher than ever, since Xiaomi has presented its next, already anticipated, model of… sedan.
High-end performance
If you travel to China this year, you may come across electric vehicles bearing the Xiaomi emblem. The SU7 (pronounced “ sou-chii “) should be marketed in China from February, and could well get people talking about them, given their rather interesting performances, but not only that.
The car will be available in two models, the base SU7 and the SU7 Max. While the former will have rear-wheel drive and a range of 668 km (according to the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle, or CLTC), the latter will be able to travel up to 800 km on a charge with two motors and all-wheel drive. The latter would be capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.78 seconds, better than certain versions of the Porsche Taycan Turbo and the Tesla Model S.
The SU7 Max should also be efficient in terms of charging, finding a range of 220 km in 5 minutes, 390 km in 10 minutes, or 510 km in 15 minutes. The dimensions of the car will be close to those of the BMW 5 Series, with these 1,440 mm in height, 1,963 mm in width and 4,997 mm in length. Finally, it will benefit from two trunks with a respective volume of 517 and 105 liters.
Xiaomi takes on the elite of the automotive sector
The Chinese company had a lot to tell us about its electric car, so much so that its dedicated conference lasted more than three hours. It seeks to compete with prestigious Western brands, and that is why it has brought in such well-known faces as Tianyuan Li, who worked on the iX Series and BMW’s iVision. But also James Qiu, behind the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX concept, and Chris Bangle, BMW veteran.
In the end, we get a vehicle that broadly resembles the Model S and the Taycan, with a few extra protrusions to accommodate the sensors needed for autonomous driving. Indeed, Xiaomi wants to emphasize the latter, promising that the SU7 will be able to navigate both busy streets and snowy roads. This will be made possible thanks, among other things, to a LiDAR with a range of 200 m, as well as the integration of Xiaomi Pilot, powered by an NVIDIA Drive Orin chip (two for the Max model).
However, we will have to wait several months before discovering the car’s capabilities in real conditions, since the company should begin tests towards the end of 2024 in around a hundred Chinese cities.
A car or a gadget?
Finally, Xiaomi obliges, the infotainment system has been the subject of great attention. A 16.1-inch central screen will allow you to benefit from the in-house Android overlay, HyperOS, and will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295. However, it will be accompanied by physical buttons to control the air conditioning, for example, or the position of the spoiler. rear (which, according to CEO Lei Jun, is just there to show off).
If the company has specified that it is opening its system to third-party manufacturers, by supporting Apple CarPlay and various connected equipment, the stated ambition is to integrate the SU7 into its entire ecosystem. The Chinese giant confirms that the tech sector is merging more and more with the automotive world, it remains to be seen what this will look like on the asphalt. But also on the invoice, of which we should have a first glimpse in the coming weeks.
Source : Engadget
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