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Xiaomi takes on the electric vehicle market
Xiaomi aims to penetrate the automotive market with a top-of-the-range modelUnlike Apple, which has abandoned its ambitions in this area.
The Chinese manufacturer is confident, as demonstrated by its support for a team of 3,400 engineers for the project, but above all a 10 billion yuan investment (€1,285 billion) in its automotive business over the next decade, according to the BBC.
To this end, Xiaomi has called on well-known personalities such as :
- Chris Bangle, formerly of BMW,
- Tianyuan Li, who was involved in BMW's iX and iVision projects,
- James Qiu, the man behind the Vision EQXX concept from Mercedes-Benz.
Xiaomi aims to challenge Tesla and Porsche with its very first model, called SU7. Indeed, this electric vehicle is strongly reminiscent of the Tesla Model S and the Porsche Taycanwith the sensors required for the latter. autonomous driving.
Read also : Top 10 electric cars with the best autonomy in 2024
The SU7, recently unveiled at a conference led by Lei Junthe company's CEO, marks a a major breakthrough in the automotive sector. Jun himself played an active role in its development, testing more than 150 vehicles to guarantee its competitiveness. And with good reason: this generously sized 100 % electric saloon has generated a lot of interest in ChinaDespite the declining popularity of electric saloons in other regions, in favour of Electric SUVs.
I firmly believe that Xiaomi electric cars will one day be available worldwide
However, his arrival abroad is not imminent. In the words of Chairman Lu Weibing, reported by CNBC, it will be necessary to wait 2 or 3 years before the manufacturer rolls out its vehicle internationally.
To achieve this vision, it is imperative to conquer the Chinese market firstThis is despite the challenges posed by abundant supply and a slowing economy.
The SU7 is up against Tesla, the pioneer of electric cars, which has set the trend and is already competing with BYDthe world leader in electric vehicles.
Read more : BYD Seal vs Tesla Model 3: which vehicle is more suitable for professionals?
The Chinese electric car went into production in February and is currently being available for pre-order only on the Chinese market from 28 March 2024the company recorded 88,898 orders for its SU7 within 24 hours of its launch.
In addition, Chinese reports indicate that 10,000 individuals have visited the dealership Xiaomi Auto in Shanghai. According to the shop manager, the trial sessions were scheduled to run until 3am on 30 March.
The phenomenal hype surrounding this new electric saloon is due to its high brand confidence among Chinese consumers. Indeed, many Chinese already own Xiaomi products, demonstrating the popularity of the latter, as the company has demonstrated its effectiveness with a remarkable connectivity between its various devices.
At the moment, China's electric car tops 100,000 orderswhile the annual production capacity of the brand is 150,000 units for the time being.
Its base price is 215,900 yuan, or about 27 500 €. Although competitive in its segment, this price corresponds to the ambitious challenge that the brand has set itself.
N.B. : Reuters reports that the SU7 is already out of stock for 2024. Customers who have placed an order will have to wait between 4 and 7 months before the delivery of their vehicle.
Distinctive features of the Xiaomi SU7
At first glance, its appearance is reminiscent of the Porsche Taycan, with aggressive, sporty lines. The car's dimensions will be approximately :
- 1,963 mm from width,
- 1 440 mm from height,
- 4 997 mm from length.
With a Nappa leather interiorXiaomi is putting the emphasis on personalisation by offering a wide range of options, such as :
- from painted brake callipers,
- a wide range of rims,
- from logos for the side wings,
- from windscreens with different styles,
- 3 colour options bodywork available:
- Aqua Blue,
- Mineral Gray,
- and Verdant Green.
- and 3 interior colour options available:
- Grey,
- Red,
- and Black.
It also has 2 boxes offering a volumes of 517 and 105 litres each. This Chinese electric car offers a trunk and a large-capacity frunkbut this is not the only differentiating factor: the dimensions and design are cleverly optimised to maximise usable space. All in all, the SU7 is a perfect balance between storage space and accessibilitya rare achievement in the electric saloon category.
What's more, the SU7's sound system is equipped with 25 loudspeakers some of which are integrated into the front headrests, accompanied by a integrated 22.5 kW wireless charger. This provision offers total acoustic immersiontransforming every journey into a top-of-the-range listening experience.
💡Good to know The SU7: Xiaomi has used eco-friendly and sustainable materials in part in the design of the SU7, demonstrating a dual commitment to sustainability.
Remarkable performance from China's electric saloon
There's a lot of talk about the design and attractive price of the Xiaomi SU7, but what about its performance on the road? According to several corroborating sources, the Chinese giant's electric saloon stands out for its technical capabilities.
That said, Xiaomi is offering the SU7 in 2 versions.
Xiaomi SU7
The base SU7 is said to have a 220 kW (299 hp) with an engine torque of 400 Nmallowing the 0 to 100 in 5.28 seconds and a maximum speed of 210 km/h.
Manufactured by CATL, the Xiaomi SU7 is equipped with a battery LFP (lithium iron phosphate) from 73.6 kWhproviding autonomy for 668 kmcompliant with the Chinese CTLC standard.
Xiaomi SU7 Max
The SU7 Max pushes back the boundaries by incorporating an NMC battery supplied by CATL and giving the car 2 engines, at the front and rear, with respective power outputs of 220 kW and 275 kWor 299 hp and 373 hp.
With a battery offering 101 kW and torque of 635 Nmwhich ensures an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 2.78 seconds (more powerful than certain versions of the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S).
Sa top speed is 265 km/h and its autonomy extends to 800 km. Thanks to its fast 475 kWit could regain 220 km in 5 minutes and 390 km of range in 10 minutes.
In other words, it can make a U-turn in a space of just 5.7 metresand brake to stop in 33.3 metres at a speed of 100 km/h.
For the 2 versions, Xiaomi is said to have developed its own CTB (Cell-to-Body) technology, making it possible tointegrating the battery into the vehicle bodywork. The advantages are as follows:
- Improved structural rigidity,
- Removal of the floor,
- Reduced height for a more spacious cabin.
As a result, the Xiaomi 800 V silicon carbide platform offers maximum voltage of 871 V. As a result, the battery shows exceptional volumetric efficiency of 77.8 %. The company also ensures that the battery's safety complies with the strictest standards in the event of thermal failure, with heat dissipation and insulation capacities that are among the highest in the sector. What's more, it is equipped with a high-efficiency dual-mode heat pump systemenabling it to maintain a Optimum performance even at outside temperatures of -20°C.
Cutting-edge technology
Xiaomi has paid particular attention to the entertainment system and the driving experience. The result is a HUD (head-up display) 56 inches and a 16.1-inch central screen integrating HyperOS (the operating system for Xiaomi and POCO phones) which will be compatible with remote OTA updates and will be supplied by :
- a chip Orin X (which will be duplicated for the SU7 Max version)
- and another chip entitled Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295.
There will also be 2 rear 7.1-inch touch screens. In addition, there will be two physical buttons on the 3-spoke steering wheel for adjust the air conditioning or the position of the rear spoiler.
Read also : Touch screens on electric cars: a good idea or a bad one?
The two chips mentioned above can also help with the autonomous driving and thus :
- process sensor data LiDAR (with a range of 200 m),
- feed Xiaomi Pilot (a new autonomous driving technology similar to theAutopilot of Tesla).
What's more, the central screen and the augmented reality display will offer a new way of viewing the car. 3D visualisation of drivingXiaomi Pilot allows you to drive without using the steering wheel. With Xiaomi Pilot, the car can park itself automaticallyIt will also navigate effectively in a variety of environments, including :
- snow-covered roads,
- busy urban areas,
- or the narrow, winding roads.
Summary of the technical specifications of the Xiaomi SU7
For greater clarity, we have condensed the key information relating to the 2 versions of the SU7 into a summary table:
| SU7 | SU7 Max | |
|---|---|---|
|
Power
|
220 kW
|
220 kW and 275 kW
|
|
Horses
|
299 hp
|
299 bhp and 373 bhp
|
|
0 to 100 km/h
|
5.28 seconds
|
2.78 seconds
|
|
0 to 200 km/h
|
NC
|
10.67 seconds
|
|
Maximum speed
|
210 km/h
|
265 km/h
|
|
Battery
|
73.6 kW
|
101 kW
|
|
Autonomy (CTLC cycle)
|
668 km
|
800 km
|
|
Rapid recharge in 10 minutes
|
NC
|
390 km
|
|
Engine torque
|
400 Nm
|
635 Nm
|
⚠️ Disclaimer Some information may differ, particularly with regard to range and recharging.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi SU7 has entered the Chinese market, shaking up the automotive world with its tempting positioning. With its remarkable performance, meticulous design and attractive price tag, it promises a unique driving experience. Although it's still too early to say what impact it will have, the SU7 has the potential to reshape the electric vehicle market.
Looking at the technical aspects of the Xiaomi SU7, we'll have to wait and see over the coming months whether its claimed performance lives up to its stated ambitions. The SU7 really could be the Tesla Model S for the price of a Tesla Model 3 ?
Stay tuned.
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Read also : Fleet management: how do you choose your fleet management software?
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