Cop that Germany: Xiaomi YU7 GT EV shapes up for international sale by clinching new Nurburgring SUV lap record
China’s Xiaomi has once again lapped the Nurburgring faster than any Porsche, Audi or Mercedes.
Its latest YU7 GT lapped the Nordschleife in 7:34.931, robbing the Audi RS Q8 (7:36.698) of its fastest SUV crown.
Repeating the same trick it pulled in late 2024 with the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra EV, before Porsche fought back with its extreme Taycan Turbo GT Manthey, the new production car record for an SUV around Europe’s favourite proving ground was set by the new Xiaomi with chief test driver Ren Zhoucan behind the wheel.
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Powered by dual-electric motors that churn out an impressive 738kW, it’s no wonder the new Porsche Macan fighter was so brisk around the ‘Ring.
With its ability to launch from 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds, the fastest variant of the mid-size YU7 came close to clocking 300km/h on some of the German road circuit’s longest straights.
Perhaps cheekily, the Xiaomi YU7 GT wasn’t exactly standard for the record attempt, coming with the optional Track Professional pack that brings 265mm-wide front rubber and even broader 325mm rear tyres that run a track-focused semi-slick compound.
The YU7 GT also comes with a race-ready bucket seat, six-point harnesses and a full roll-cage, which is mandated for any record attempt.
To compensate for the addition of the heavy safety gear, the Chinese car-maker also removed “some interior trim” that seemed to include the rear bench seat, but it’s worth pointing out that the record-setting YU7 GT did pass official certification before its hot lap.
Helping it deliver its astonishing lap is not only its massive power but its powerful 897-volt electrics and silicon carbide inverter that allows it to deliver high power for prolonged periods.
In China, the YU7 GT, which comes with a large 101.7kWh battery is said to cover an impressive 705km on the lenient CLTC Chinese test cycle, with as much as 570km of range added in little more than 15 minutes.
Helping the Xiaomi SUV achieve the blistering lap, the YU7 gets dual-valve dampers with two-way adjustment plus a height-adjustable dual-chamber air springs, plus an electronically-controlled rear differential.
Helping it stop, the Porsche Macan Turbo-rival comes with huge carbon-ceramic discs and six-piston front Akebono calipers that are powerful enough to be able to withstand ten 180-0km/h stops in a row.
Ahead of its 2027 European launch, which could pave the way for the brand’s arrival Down Under, the Xiaomi YU7 has undergone extensive testing and tuning both on the Nurburgring and European roads.
