The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and Nio EP9 show how far electric cars have come

From smartphones to supercars

Who would’ve guessed a phone maker could take on the world’s most powerful cars? Xiaomi, known for its electronics, has shocked the automotive world with its electric sedan, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. This car didn’t just show up; it broke records.

By storming one of the most demanding tracks on Earth, the company proved it’s more than just a tech brand. The leap from phones to fast cars might seem crazy, but Xiaomi’s engineers were clearly serious about speed and innovation.

Conquering the green hell

The Nürburgring, nicknamed the Green Hell, is not for the faint of heart. Winding through the forests of Germany, it stretches nearly 13 miles with over 70 dangerous corners that can test even professional racers.

Every lap is a battle between man, machine, and nature. For decades, this legendary track has been the ultimate proving ground for carmakers worldwide, a place where reputations are built or destroyed in just a few minutes.

Xiaomi’s big leap into racing

When Xiaomi first announced it would build electric cars, most people thought it was a marketing stunt. But with the SU7 Ultra, the brand proved it wasn’t playing games.

The company invested years of research and billions of dollars in designing a machine that could rival the world’s top-performing cars. By combining high-tech software with cutting-edge engineering, Xiaomi transformed itself from a gadget brand into a legitimate car manufacturer.

Fastest electric executive car at the Ring

In its most recent Nürburgring run, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra stunned the world by clocking a lap time of 7 minutes and 4.957 seconds. That’s an incredible feat for any production car, let alone one built by a newcomer.

This officially set the Nürburgring record for electric executive cars at 7:04.957. Its 7:04.957 was quicker than the Rimac Nevera’s 7:05.298 and the Taycan Turbo GT’s 7:07.55, though in a different class and configuration.

Stripped down for speed

For the record run, the SU7 Ultra featured a safety cage and track-focused components (suspension, braking, cooling, and tires), and it underwent TÜV inspections before and after the attempt.

The car’s aerodynamics, battery management, and power delivery systems were all optimized for the Green Hell. This wasn’t a luxury cruiser; it was a purpose-built track monster wearing Xiaomi’s badge.

The driver who made history

Behind the wheel of the record-breaking SU7 Ultra was Belgian racer Vincent Radermecker. Known for his calm focus under pressure, he pushed the electric sedan right to its limits.

Every corner, every braking point, every throttle input mattered. His flawless control helped Xiaomi make history, proving that great technology still requires human skill to truly shine.

Taking down automotive giants

The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra didn’t just post a fast time; it beat legends. Its lap was quicker than McLarens, Porsches, and even track-bred Corvettes that once ruled the Nürburgring.

For a company with no racing legacy, defeating these giants was more than symbolic; it was a wake-up call to the entire automotive industry. Xiaomi had officially joined the ranks of serious performance brands.

The Chinese car that came first

Before Xiaomi made headlines, another Chinese company had already made history at the Nürburgring. Back in 2016, Nio’s electric hypercar, the EP9, shocked the world with its blistering lap times.

At a time when most people still doubted electric performance cars, Nio proved that China could build a hypercar capable of taking on Europe’s best machines and winning.

Setting records in silence

The Nio EP9 first completed a lap in 7 minutes and 5.12 seconds, an impressive time for an electric car at the time. But Nio wasn’t satisfied and returned to improve.

The second run dropped the record to an astonishing 6 minutes and 45.9 seconds, beating nearly every gas-powered supercar of its era. That record still stands among the fastest Nürburgring times ever achieved by an EV.

Electric power unleashed

The Nio EP9 was a masterpiece of engineering. With four water-cooled motors and 1,341 horsepower, it could sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.7 seconds.

The car’s instant torque and advanced torque vectoring system gave it pinpoint handling through the Nürburgring’s tricky corners. It was a perfect blend of power, control, and futuristic design.

Aerodynamics that defied gravity

Speed alone wasn’t what made the Nio EP9 special; it was the way it gripped the road. Active aero generated roughly 24,000 N (5,400 lb) of downforce at 240 km/h, enabling exceptional high-speed grip.

That’s enough to theoretically let the car drive upside down in a tunnel. In practice, it meant unbeatable cornering ability and unmatched stability at over 150 mph.

Record breaker around the world

The EP9 didn’t limit its dominance to Germany. It also set records at Texas’s Circuit of the Americas and the Shanghai International Circuit.

Even more impressively, it completed a driverless lap in 2:40.33 minutes, demonstrating that its autonomous systems were as advanced as its performance hardware.

China’s growing power in speed

The success of the Nio EP9 and Xiaomi SU7 Ultra marks a new chapter for China’s auto industry. No longer followers, these brands are now innovators, leading the high-performance electric revolution.

Their victories show that the age of electric dominance isn’t just coming, it’s already here, and unexpected challengers are leading it

Beating the best of the west

The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra’s Nürburgring time puts it ahead of iconic cars like the Lamborghini Huracán Performante, the Nissan GT-R Nismo, and the Corvette Z06.

These cars once defined performance benchmarks, but the SU7 Ultra’s combination of speed, precision, and technology shows just how fast the electric era is advancing.

The track that tests them all

The Nürburgring isn’t just another race track; it’s the ultimate test of endurance, engineering, and courage. A car that performs well here earns instant respect worldwide.

Each twist and turn challenges suspension, braking, and driver reflexes. That’s why every lap time posted here is more than a number; it’s a story of mastery over chaos.

Tech meets tradit

Xiaomi’s success demonstrates how technology companies are transforming the automotive industry. Using their expertise in software and electronics, they’re building vehicles that think as fast as they move.

By blending data, artificial intelligence, and design, companies like Xiaomi are proving that the future of racing might come from unexpected places.

Curious how Chinese EV brands are making their mark beyond Asia? See how they’re charging into Europe’s electric dream.

The future belongs to electric speed

Electric cars are no longer the quiet, slow options they once were. With machines like the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and the Nio EP9, they’ve become the new kings of performance.

As technology evolves, the Nürburgring will continue to test the limits of what’s possible. One thing’s certain: the next generation of speed will run on electricity, not gasoline.

Want to see more jaw-dropping rides from China? Take a look at the cars already grabbing global attention.

Electric cars are no longer the quiet, slow options they once were. With machines like the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and the Nio EP9, they’ve become the new kings of performance.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.