While it may look like a Ferrari Purosangue from some angles, a 1138kW version of Xiaomi’s YU7 SUV is about to truly humble the 533kW V12 Ferrari.
Electric Cars
A new electric vehicle could be about to sweep the title of world’s most powerful SUV, leaving a huge gap between it and the dethroned runner-up.
That looks set to change though, with pictures of the YU7 GT testing at the Nurburgring in Germany, running what is believed to be the 1138kW three-motor electric powertrain from the SU7 Ultra.
Rather than using the Ultra name, the YU7 is widely tipped to adopt the GT moniker, potentially reflecting a small step-down in dynamic capability compared to the lower, lighter SU7 Ultra.
The YU7 GT is still likely to follow the design themes established by the Ultra, with bigger alloy wheels shrouded by widened front and rear guards.
Other performance pointers include an enlarged rooftop spoiler and a subtle lip spoiler at the trailing edge of the tailgate.
Carbon ceramic brakes with Akebono calipers, adapted from the SU7 Ultra, are also equipped on the YU7 spotted testing.
Currently, the most powerful version of the YU7 range, the YU7 Max, produces 508kW from a twin-motor drivetrain, allowing a 0-100km/h sprint in an already-rapid 3.23 seconds.
If the YU7 GT debuts with the same 1138kW output as the SU7 Ultra, it will comfortably take the title of the world’s most powerful production SUV, usurping the 760kW Tesla Model X Plaid.
Xiaomi’s performance hardware is capable of running the 0-100km/h sprint in 1.98 seconds in the SU7 Ultra sedan, although the slightly larger and heavier YU7 body will likely see that time increase to a low two-second benchmark.
The SU7 Ultra gets a significant weight reduction program, making it around 500kg lighter than the non-Ultra models it's based on.
The slightly less focused positioning of the YU7 SUV range may see this weight reduction program softened slightly, befitting the GT name and retaining a greater level of passenger comfort.
Xiaomi has used the SU7 Ultra sedan to set a Nurburgring electric vehicle lap record, and with a sharp focus on de-throning existing performance brands, it’s likely Xiaomi may use the production YU7 GT to tackle records set by established performance SUVs.
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Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
