Just a few days ago, Xiaomi announced that its upcoming all-electric SUV, the YU7 GT, had set a new Nürburgring lap record in the Production SUVs category by crossing the finish line in 7 minutes 34.931 seconds. Commenters online were skeptical, blaming the company for using a specially prepped vehicle, so the IT giant has now released a follow-up statement to refute the rumors.
According to it, the YU7 GT that hit the tarmac at the Green Hell wore a so-called Track Package, which is expected to go on sale along with the SUV and be freely available to all buyers. Among other things, it includes semi-slick tires and wider rear wheels for extra grip and stability. It also introduces an electronic diff lock at the rear axle, letting the EV make sharper corners.
Aside from the above, it was also retrofitted with bucket seats, racing harnesses, and a roll cage. Xiaomi admits that it had to strip some of the interior trim “to compensate for the added weight.” The company still assures us that it was done with a production SUV as the starting point, so the record should qualify for the ranking table.
The hardcore GT version of the all-electric YU7 sends 1,003 PS (989 hp / 738 kW) to the wheels from its multiple e-motors. The sales should start soon, but we still have no launch date or pricing info.