Chinese EV smashes Nurburgring record, beating Rimac and Porsche

Located in Nürburg, Germany, the Nürburgring has seen some of the fiercest and fastest vehicles ever created by mankind on its pave. Originally meant as a place to showcase the prominence and dominance of German engineering, the track has evolved into a testing ground for the latest advancements in performance cars.

With nearly a century of history behind it, no other track in the world has seen the kind of raw power that automotive manufacturers put on display. Just recently, an entry from a new Chinese automaker took on the revered gauntlet and broke the four-door car lap record on its first attempt.

Xiaomi SU7 Ultra EV prototype surpassed Rimac Nevera and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT
Beating out two of the fastest electric cars in the world is a feat in and of itself, but demolishing their lap records is on a completely different level. The 1,527-horsepower Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype completed the full 12.9-mile track in just 6:46.874 and claimed the title of "The Nürburgring Nordschleife World's Fastest Four-Door Car”.

The Rimac Nevera is no lightweight when it comes to performance, with its electric powertrain generating more than 1,900 horsepower and holding a lap time of 7:05.298. The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT posted a lap time right behind the Nevera, coming in at 7:07.55.

Xiaomi SU7 Ultra EV's production model is scheduled for release in 2025
Designed to be the fastest four-door electric car, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra arrives ready for the track. The four-door, road-legal “race car” will share the same tri-motor setup as the record car and boasts a jaw-dropping 1,527 horsepower.

While the production model won't be quite the same as the prototype, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra will feature the same track-optimized cooling system that allowed it to tackle the Nürburgring course not once, but twice without overheating. The mass-produced version of the SU7 Ultra will challenge the legendary course sometime in 2025.

Xiaomi SU7 Ultra EV prototype almost didn’t get to run the Nürburgring gauntlet
Running the Nürburgring gauntlet, with its twists and turns, requires perfect weather conditions. The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype didn’t have weather on its side. In fact, the electric race car almost didn’t get to take a shot at the track at all.

After two days of bad weather, the electric car was finally able to take to the track with David Pittard, winner of the 2023 24 Hours of Nürburgring, behind the wheel. Although they were finally on the track, Xiaomi’s troubles weren’t over. Less-than-ideal conditions, like wet pavement, were still an issue, and the SU7 Ultra prototype even lost power for a few seconds around the four-minute mark.

Even with the unfavorable conditions, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype shattered the record on its first attempt. With its successful completion and record-breaking lap time, the prototype became the seventh pure electric vehicle to make it onto the Nürburgring list.

Final thoughts
Because this is a Chinese electric car, it isn’t likely we’ll see it entering the United States anytime soon due to federal motor vehicle safety standards. If we did, the Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire, with 0-60 MPH times of 1.99 and 1.89 seconds respectively, might have another foreign competitor on their hands. Speaking of competition, the SU7 Ultra is already challenging the Tesla Model S Plaid in both price and performance in China, giving the home market a leg up over Western competition.