Xiaomi launches the SU7: everything you need to know about the electric car and its options

© Xiaomi (via 𝕏)

Will Xiaomi “disrupt” the market with its SU7 – an electric SUV full of rather clever options – offered on the Chinese market at a fairly aggressive price ? This is the big question that we have been asking since the first information on the vehicle. After teasing a price below €64,000 (500,000 Yuan).

In the end its final price starts a few thousand euros below the price asked by Tesla for the Model 3. The vehicle is full of options, whether it is physical modules that can add functionality, such as a built-in speaker that transforms into a Bluetooth speaker, optional colored lighting scenarios, cushions, and much more.

Launch in China means unknowns remain for the European market. In particular its autonomy according to the WLTP cycle, and the impact of taxes and upgrades on its final price in France.

© Xiaomi

For the moment, launch for the Chinese market requires, the Xiaomi SU7 is only available in China without any availability date in France, Europe or in other markets . An international launch event may be offered by the brand at a later date. On a date which is of course not yet communicated.

In China, on the other hand, the Xiaomi SU7 is already available for pre-order from 215&nbsp ;900 Yuan (approximately 27 660 euros). The first deliveries of the SU7 will begin at the end of April, assures the brand. The price is indeed very aggressive on the local market, given that the Tesla Model 3, one of the best sellers in China, is offered from 245,900 Yuan (31,390 euros), while the Model 3 Long Range is available from 285 900 Yuan (36 630 euros).

The Chinese market is however particularly competitive with manufacturers like BYD which have already put vehicles on the market like the Han, priced from 169 800 Yuan or around 21 755 euros.

© Xiaomi

The interior of the Xiaomi SU7 offers a screen on the dashboard, a large console screen that can be oriented in landscape or portrait mode. The whole thing is completed by a screen called “heads up” just above the dashboard so you don't take your eyes off the road. The steering wheel is designed in a D shape (understand a slightly flattened circle on one side). Several elements of the passenger compartment are customizable via modules to be installed as an option (and they are numerous and original as you will see in the options section).

According to the manufacturer, the Xiaomi SU7 has a range of 700 km – on paper superior to the 606 km of autonomy displayed by the Model 3 on the local market. Note that we are not talking about a WLTP cycle here but a CLTC cycle – which means that the actual autonomy of the vehicle is undoubtedly lower according to the metrics usually used by manufacturers in France.

An SU7 Max variant pushes the & #8217;range further, 810 km (CLTC) thanks to a “CATL Kirin” of 101 kWh. Beyond that, depending on the platform chosen by the customer, charging is more or less rapid. In terms of speed and acceleration, Xiaomi promises up to 265 km/h, and 0-100 km/h in just 2.78 seconds.

On the autonomous driving side, Xiaomi offers two options in China. The basic package is the Xiaomi Pilot Pro. This is based on two front cameras, a millimeter radar at the front, four side cameras, four panoramic cameras, and a rear camera, supported by a dozen ultrasonic radars. All with an AI model running on an Nvidia DRIVE Orin system which deploys some 84 TOPS…

© Xiaomi

Which is more than five worlds below the Pilot Max option. This adds two millimeter radars at the rear, and a LiDAR, a more precise type of laser sensor, all attached to two Nvidia DRIVE Orins, for a total of 508 TOPS. We understand that this will strongly condition the level of autonomous driving. Features arriving on the Chinese market this summer, in August. In any case according to the announcements made today.

On the design side, the firm has rather chosen the sport formula, even if overall we are clearly on a vehicle which evokes much more the volume and characteristics of a Model 3. The sleek lines, with the reinforcement on the side doors, evoke a bit of an air of Roadster, or at least of a luxury car.

All with very pop and unique colors. The A image shows all the body options available. Others are via the brand's global Twitter account, as shown in the tweet below.

However, that's not all: the brand also offers upholstery colors which can establish interesting contrasts, rather full of personality.

The other interesting aspect of the Xiaomi SU7 is the options. These are particularly numerous, and it must be said that Xiaomi has innovated a lot here. We saw, for example, the modular buttons that can be added or removed below the entertainment system screen.

Other options like enhanced RGB lights look like some sort of DLC… in other words downloadable options (in this case, around €25 after conversion). Another well thought out option, a speaker, offered for around a hundred euros, built into the passenger compartment normally but which can be removed to transform itself as a Bluetooth connected speaker.

And there are even more options. For example with cushions, and other accessories for comfort. Finally, note that the firm has largely made irony about the abandonment of the Apple Car. To the point of announcing automatic compatibility with Car Play, but also a mode adapted to iPads. Because why not.

This is the great unknown. With the latest changes to the scale of aid for the purchase of electric cars such as the ecological bonus for example, it is becoming more and more difficult for foreign brands to establish themselves in markets like the unique. In any case without entering into the criteria.

Among the latter, it is largely a question of assembling everything in Europe and sourcing a significant portion of its components on the old continent. For now, Xiaomi still has everything to demonstrate. The firm indicates, for example, that it has succeeded in optimizing its manufacturing line by introducing a lot of robotics for key operations.

It remains to be seen if Xiaomi has really managed to crack the & ;#8217;equation. We can bet that the trial gallon in China will truly determine the brand's future ambitions.

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