Chinese tech firm and electric car manufacturer Xiaomi has set another milestone in its high-speed development after announcing on Wednesday that its SU7 Ultra production model has set the fastest electric executive vehicle record around the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife race track in Germany.
Lei Jun, Xiaomi's founder and chairman, announced the achievement in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo, saying the SU7 Ultra had become the fastest production electric car to ever lap the Nurburgring, with Belgian racing driver Vincent Radermecker behind the wheel.
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra production model, equipped with an optional track package, set a lap time of 7:04.957 minutes on its first outing at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, shattering the previous record set by the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT in September 2023 by more than two seconds, according to the Xiaomi founder.
Located in Germany's Rhineland-Palatinate region, the Nurburgring Nordschleife previously hosted Formula One Grand Prix motor races before being deemed too unsafe to do so, but it is now regarded as one of the most daunting and challenging automotive test tracks in the world.
The Nordschleife or 'North Loop' section of the track, which is about 20.8 kilometers long, features over 170 bends and a vertical drop of 300 meters, providing a complex environment that tests a vehicle's powertrain, braking ability, and steering systems, while also serving as a benchmark for vehicle durability and handling.
According to Xiaomi staff, after testing the limit of the vehicle's capabilities on professional race tracks and gathering the relevant data, the resulting technical expertise will later be applied to the development of future models.
"The entire automotive industry in Europe and the U.S. was built on the foundation of high-performance vehicles leading the way. We are now learning from these experiences to guide the direction of future upgrades and even develop the next generation of vehicles. Superior performance is essentially a reflection of safety. For example, when I drive a high-performance car, it inherently provides a greater margin of safety," said Ren Zhoucan, the chief test driver and head of vehicle dynamics development at Xiaomi Auto.
A number of Chinese-made models have been spotted on the Nurburgring circuit in recent years as China's electric vehicle industry continues its rapid development. A total of five Chinese automakers have participated in official tests around the track and have achieved notable results.
Xiaomi -- best known for its mobile phones and home appliances -- drew significant global attention when it unveiled its self-developed new energy vehicle, the SU7, last March, marking the firm's first foray into the fast lane of the automobile industry.
The record-setting SU7 Ultra was launched in February this year, boasting a top speed of 350 km/h alongside a range of cutting-edge systems.
Chinese-made EV smashes lap record at world-famous Nurburgring race track
Chinese-made EV smashes lap record at world-famous Nurburgring race track
