There is no longer a safe zone for German automakers. Xiaomi has officially taken the fight to Audi on its home turf, stealing the title of the fastest SUV around the Nürburgring. The Chinese electric performance SUV, Xiaomi YU7 GT, has shaken the automotive world after beating the Audi RS Q8’s lap time and announcing the arrival of a new performance era.
The Fastest SUV At Nürburgring Is No Longer German
We are officially living in a completely different era of the automotive industry. Few could have imagined that a company once known mainly for smartphones and consumer electronics would one day challenge and defeat German engineering giants on their own legendary racetrack.
That is exactly what Xiaomi has done after officially setting a new Nürburgring record for the fastest SUV.
The upcoming Xiaomi YU7 GT managed to beat the previous record held by the Audi RS Q8, climbing to the top of the performance SUV rankings just days before its official global debut later this week.
Breaking Down The Numbers
Xiaomi’s chief test driver, Ren Zukan, completed the demanding Nürburgring Nordschleife lap in an impressive:
• Xiaomi YU7 GT lap time: 7 minutes and 34.93 seconds
• Previous Audi RS Q8 record: 7 minutes and 36.69 seconds
That means Xiaomi was quicker by 1.76 seconds, marking the first time in history that a Chinese driver has officially set a production vehicle record at the Nürburgring, famously known as the “Green Hell.”
Nearly 1,000 Horsepower And 300 KM/H Performance
According to leaked data from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Xiaomi YU7 GT comes with serious performance credentials:
• Dual electric motors with all wheel drive
• Combined output of 990 horsepower
• Target top speed of 300 km/h
Footage from inside the car during the record lap showed a GPS verified speed of 299 km/h on the Nürburgring’s long straight.
The SUV is powered by a massive 101.7 kWh battery pack, offering a claimed driving range of up to 705 kilometers under the Chinese CLTC testing cycle.
Nürburgring Focused Setup
Video footage from the record run revealed that the record setting car featured several lightweight modifications. The rear seats had been removed completely, while the cabin was equipped with a full roll cage to improve safety and rigidity.
Interestingly, Xiaomi actually achieved the record on April 2, but kept the result secret until now to build excitement ahead of the official unveiling scheduled for May 21.
The company also confirmed that the HyperOS equipped SUV will offer an optional Track Package, with full details expected during the launch event.
