Production Xiaomi SU7 slower than prototype, still sets a North Loop record

Xiaomi Cars CEO Lei Jun has officially announced that the company’s all-electric sedan, the SU7 Ultra, set a Nürburgring lap record among production EVs.

The car has lapped up the famous course in 7 minutes 4.957 seconds. As you may remember, a prototype of the same model was even faster around the ‘Ring last fall, completing it in an impressive 6 minutes and 46.874 seconds. Still, even though the mass-produced car ended up slightly slower, it has nonetheless managed to beat the results of the Tesla Model S Plaid and the Porsche Taycan Turbo S / Turbo GT Weissach. The best electric Porsche was two and a half seconds slower to the finish line.

In its announcement, Xiaomi chose not to mention another comparable EV – the Rimac Nevera. We suppose that one belongs in a different vehicle class and is a coupe instead of sedan, but it’s worth pointing out that the Nevera’s best North Loop time was 7 minutes 5.3 seconds.

Speaking of EVs on the Nürburgring, the absolute best lap time of 6 minutes 5.336 seconds still belongs to the Volkswagen ID.R Concept. It’s a one-off prototype with no production prospects, though, so the Chinese automaker’s result is nothing short of a breakthrough.

Commenting on the record, Lei Jun said that Xiaomi didn’t intend to rest on its laurels. He didn’t elaborate on the specifics, but confirmed that the company’s future EVs would try to secure “a long-term presence” on the Nürburgring.