You already know Xiaomi is making an electric vehicle, and you may have also seen the leaked images. Now, it has been revealed that the EV, codename MS11, is officially called SU7. It is reported that Xiaomi has officially applied for the sales license for its first EV in China. We also learned that the car will be produced by Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. Ltd (BAIC).
Mind you though, this recent update is not the official announcement of the product. According to a report, the information was “leaked” because Xiaomi, like every other car destined for China’s market, has to be approved by the local regulator, and the information submitted to the relevant authority [CH] will be made public.
Anyhoo, Xiaomi SU7 is a 4-door, 5-seater battery electric vehicle with fastback-ish lines. It measures 4997 mm long, 1963 mm wide, and 1455 mm, which puts it right in the C-segment. It has a long wheelbase of 3,000 mm, leaving little overhang front and back. It will weigh at least 1,980 kilograms (4,365 lbs). The design is pretty much what have seen. It is sleek but nothing that will blow minds.
The new SUV7 will be available with three trims with model names inspired by smartphones, namely SU7, SU7 Pro, and SU7 Max. I don’t know why. This naming convention just put a smile on my face. Perhaps this is a sign that automobiles and smartphones have become one or will become one, and who knows? This may be the new trend in naming vehicles moving forward.
While it has a smartphone naming convention, SUV7 has more options than a smartphone. It offers a host of options including a choice of 19” with 245/45 R19 tires or 20” 245/40 R20 tires, and two powertrain options, namely a 220 kW (295 HP) RWD and a 495 kW (664 HP) AWD. The latter is rocking two electric motors, putting out 220 kW and 275 kW (369 HP). Depending on the trim, the max speed is up to 265 km/h (165 mph).
The electric motor is supplied by United Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd., btw. Again, depending on the trim, the SU7 may get LiDAR and an active rear wing. Moreover, all SU7 models with be outfitted with an ETC function that allows drivers to pay tolls at the toolls without having to stop the car.
Finally, the automobile’s in-car system is set to be powered by HyperOS, Xiaomi’s self-developed operating system which was introduced with the new Xiaomi 14 smartphones.
The arrival of Xiaomi’s first EV is imminent. The Xiaomi EV is set to go into production next month (December) with first deliveries as soon as February 2024. The car is likely to retail for 300,000 yuan and up, which works out to be around US$42,000 today.
Images: Xiaomi.
