Three years after deciding to enter the automotive market, Chinese company Xiaomi has just surpassed Apple and become the first mobile phone manufacturer to launch a 100% electric car, the SU7, which will hit the market in 2024.
Presented this Thursday, December 28th, at an event held in Beijing, China, the SU7 is a sedan, based on Xiaomi’s Modena platform, which was designed to support 400-volt and 800-volt electric architectures, as well as transmission systems with one or two motors.
Equipped with electric motors developed internally by Xiaomi, which the company’s CEO, Lei Jun, says is a “super electric motor,” capable of providing faster acceleration speeds than Tesla and Porsche cars, the SU7 will feature two versions: the entry-level version with an electric motor installed on the rear axle, with a power of 300 hp and a torque of 400 Nm, which is powered by a 73.6 kWh battery, and allows for acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.28 seconds and a maximum speed of 210 km/h, with a range of 628 km to 668 km in CLTC cycle.
The more powerful version is the SU7 Max, which uses two electric motors, one per axle, with all-wheel drive, with a total power of 645 hp and a torque of 838 Nm, which uses a 101 kWh battery supplied by CATL, allowing for a range of up to 800 km, as well as acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds and a maximum speed of 265 km/h.
The design of the SU7 is the result of collaboration between former designers from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and the 100% electric model measures 4.99 meters in length, 1.96 meters in width, and 1.4 meters in height, with a weight of 1980 kg. The elegant lines of Xiaomi’s electric car contribute to a claimed drag coefficient of just 0.195 Cd, making the SU7 one of the most aerodynamically efficient production cars.
The interior stands out for the use of the HyperOS operating system, which features a 16.1″ central screen with 3k resolution and allows for the projection of Xiaomi smartphones’ screens. In addition, there is also a 7.1″ instrument panel and a head-up display with augmented reality. Rear seat passengers can also enjoy two screens placed on the backs of the front seats. Note also the 23-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos.
The new SU7 is expected to be on sale in 2024, and Lei Jun, during the presentation of Xiaomi’s first car, revealed that the brand’s ambition for the automotive sector is to be at the forefront of the largest manufacturers. “Working hard over the next 15 to 20 years, we will become one of the top five car manufacturers in the world, striving to elevate the overall Chinese automotive industry,” he said.
