Xiaomi takes on the electric vehicle market
Xiaomi aims to penetrate the automotive market with a high-end modelunlike Apple, which has abandoned its ambitions in this area.
The Chinese manufacturer is confident, as demonstrated by the support of a team of team of 3,400 engineers for the project, but above all an investment of 10 billion yuan (€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, creator of the Vision EQXX concept from Mercedes-Benz.
Xiaomi aims to challenge Tesla and Porsche with its very first model, called SU7. This electric vehicle is strongly reminiscent of the Tesla Model S and the Porsche Taycanwith, in the case of the latter, the sensors required for autonomous driving. autonomous driving.
Also read : Top 10 electric cars with the best range in 2024
The SU7, recently unveiled at a conference led by Lei Junthe company's CEO, marks a major major breakthrough in the automotive field. Jun himself played an active role in its development, testing over 150 vehicles to ensure its competitiveness. And with good reason: this generously-sized 100% electric sedan electric sedan has been very popular in Chinadespite the declining popularity of electric sedans in other regions, in favor of electric electric SUVs.
I firmly believe that Xiaomi electric cars will one day be found all over the world.
However, his arrival abroad is not imminent. According to CNBC's Lu Weibing, the company's president, it will be 2 or 3 years before the manufacturer rolls out its vehicle internationally..
To realize this vision, it is imperative to conquer the Chinese market firstdespite the challenges posed by abundant supply and a slowing economy.
The SU7 finds itself up against Tesla, the pioneer of electric cars, which set the trend and is already competing with BYDthe world leader in electric cars.
Read more : BYD Seal vs Tesla Model 3: which vehicle is better for professionals?
Entering production in February, the Chinese electric car is currently available for pre-order only on the Chinese market since March 28, 2024the company recorded 88,898 orders for the SU7 within 24 hours of its launch.
Moreover, Chinese reports indicate that 10,000 individuals frequented the Xiaomi Auto dealership in Shanghai. According to the store manager, trial sessions were scheduled until 3am on March 30.
The phenomenal popularity of this new electric sedan is due to the great confidence confidence Chinese consumers have in the brand.. Indeed, many Chinese already own Xiaomi products, demonstrating the company's popularity as it has proven its effectiveness with remarkable remarkable connectivity between its various devices.
Currently, the Chinese electric car has exceeded 100,000 orderswhile the annual production capacity production capacity is 150,000 units at present.
Its base price is 215,900 yuan, or about 27 500 €. Although competitive in its segment, this price corresponds to the ambitious challenge the brand has set itself.
N.B. : Reuters reports that the SU7 is already out of stock for 2024. Customers who have placed orders will have to wait between 4 to 7 months before delivery..
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 interiorinterior, Xiaomi emphasizes personalization by offering a wide range of options, such as :
- from painted brake calipers,
- a wide range of rims,
- from logos for the side wings,
- from windshields in different styles,
- 3 color options bodywork available :
- Aqua Blue,
- Mineral Gray,
- and Verdant Green.
- and 3 interior color options available :
- Grey,
- Red,
- and Black.
It also features 2 safes offering of 517 and 105 liters each. In fact, this Chinese electric car offers a trunk and a high-capacity frunkfrunk, but that's not the only thing that sets it apart. dimensions and design are cleverly optimized to maximize usable space.. In short, the SU7 offers a perfect balance balance between storage space and accessibilityan achievement rarely seen in the electric sedan category.
What's more, the SU7's sound system is equipped with 25 speakers some of which are integrated into the front headrests, accompanied by a integrated 22.5 kW wireless charger. This arrangement offers total acoustic immersiontransforming every journey into a high-end auditory experience.
💡Good to know : Xiaomi has designed the SU7 in part from eco-friendly and sustainable materials in the design of the SU7, demonstrating a dual commitment to sustainability.
Remarkable performance from China's electric sedan
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 sedan stands out for its technical capabilities.
That said, Xiaomi offers the SU7 in 2 versions.
Xiaomi SU7
The basic SU7 would feature a 220 kW (299 hp) and torque of 400 Nmto accelerate from 0 to 100 in 5.28 seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h.
Manufactured by CATL, the Xiaomi SU7 is equipped with a battery LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) battery 73.6 kWhbattery, offering a range of 668 kmin compliance with the Chinese CTLC standard.
Xiaomi SU7 Max
The SU7 Max pushes back the limits by integrating an NMC battery supplied by CATL and equipping the car with 2 motors, front and rear, with respective power ratings of 220 kW and 275 kWrespectively 299 hp and 373 hp.
With a 101 kW battery and torque of 635 Nmproviding acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.78 seconds (more powerful than some versions of the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S).
Its top speed is 265 km/h and its range extends to 800 km. Thanks to its fast 475 kWit can regain 220 km in 5 minutes and 390 km of range in 10 minutes.
Namely, it can perform a U-turn in a space of just 5.7 metresand brake to a stop in 33.3 meters at a speed of 100 km/h.
For the 2 versions, Xiaomi is said to have developed its own CTB (Cell-to-Body) technology, enabling the battery to beto integrate the battery into the vehicle body.. The advantages are as follows:
- Improved structural rigidity,
- Floor removed,
- Reduced height for a more spacious cabin.
Thus, the Xiaomi's 800 V silicon carbide platform platform offers a maximum voltage of 871 V. As a result, the battery boasts 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 among the highest in the industry. What's more, it's equipped with a high-efficiency dual-mode heat pump systemheat pump system, enabling it to maintain even at outside temperatures of -20°..
State-of-the-art technology
Xiaomi has paid particular attention to the entertainment system and the driving experience. This includes a HUD (head-up display) and a 56-inch 16.1-inch central screen featuring HyperOS (the operating system for Xiaomi and POCO phones), which will be compatible with remote OTA updates and powered by :
- a chip Orin X chip (which will be duplicated for the SU7 Max version)
- and another chip called Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295.
There will also be 2 rear 7.1" touchscreens. 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.
Also read : Touch screens on electric cars: a good idea or a bad one?
The two aforementioned chips will also be able to assist autonomous driving and thus :
- processing sensor data LiDAR sensors (with a range of 200 m),
- power Xiaomi Pilot (a new autonomous driving technology similar to Tesla'sAutopilot ).
In addition, the central screen and augmented reality display will offer a 3D visualization of drivingfor steering-wheel-free driving. With Xiaomi Pilot, the car the car can park itself automaticallyeven in tight spaces, but will also navigate efficiently in a variety of environments, including :
- snow-covered roads,
- busy urban areas,
- or winding, cramped roads.
Xiaomi SU7 technical specifications summary
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 hp and 373 hp
|
|
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
|
|
Fast 10-minute charge
|
NC
|
390 km
|
|
Motor torque
|
400 Nm
|
635 Nm
|
⚠️ Disclaimer Disclaimer: Some information may differ, particularly concerning autonomy 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, 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 reshuffle the deck in the electric vehicle market.
Given the technical aspects of the Xiaomi SU7, we'll have to wait and see over the coming months whether its advertised performance lives up to its stated ambitions. The SU7 could really be the Tesla Model S for the price of a Tesla Model 3 ?
Stay tuned.
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