Xiaomi previews its 2nd car, an SUV

The Xiaomi YU7 won’t debut in its full glory until next summer, but we already know from patent data that it’s going to get permanent AWD.

Judging by the images revealed thus far, the newcomer will look almost identical to the SU7 sedan except for the body proportions. It will also ride slightly higher and feature a taller roofline, and that’s about it. The front bumper, the headlights and the rear diffuser look almost indistinguishable from those of the SU7.

The YU7 is sized 4,999 x 1,996 x 1,600 mm (195.3 x 78 x 62.5 inches) large with three meters (117.2 inches) between the axles. As such, it is almost the same size as its sedan-shaped cousin, just 160 mm (6.25 inches) taller.

Xiaomi has only obtained certificates for one dual-motor powertrain so far. A 300-PS (296-hp / 221-kW) motor drives the front axle, while a 392-PS (387-hp / 288-kW) motor drives the rear. This is more power than the SU7, but the top acceleration is lower – the YU7 cannot go beyond 253 km/h (157 mph), while the SU7 can do 265 km/h (164 mph). In all likelihood, the SUV is just heavier than the sedan.