Xiaomi SU7: Can You Get Plaid Power for Half the Price?
Let me be straight with you – I've been enthusiastic about electric cars for a while now. They're changing the game, but like everything new, it takes time to mature. Sure, there have been some head-turners, but there's always that trade-off – insane power for a heart-stopping price tag, or a decent range but with performance about as exciting as a beige cardigan. I’ve seen plenty of promises and disappointments, so honestly, I keep my expectations in check. But, after taking a look at the leaked specs of this Xiaomi SU7? Let’s just say they've got my attention, and I’m willing to ditch the cardigan and let the adrenaline flow.
Okay, quick rewind. Xiaomi? The phone guys? Well, that was my reaction at first, too. But remember, they’re tech giants who tend to disrupt every single market they decide to enter. Plus, we're all used to electric cars coming from big-name automotive brands, sometimes even luxury ones. What could a tech company know about cars, right? Well, about this SU7…there are actually four flavors. That’s right, they weren’t messing around when they went after the EV market.
Don’t let the single motor entry-level model fool you. This thing does 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in a respectable 5.28 seconds thanks to its 299 hp (220 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. The only quirk about this one is that it uses a less potent 500V battery architecture, while those top-end trims utilize a powerful 871V setup. But on the upside, its range of 415 miles (668 km) should keep any anxieties firmly in the rearview mirror.
Moving up, the SU7 Pro is the first trim that gets the impressive 101 kWh Kirin battery with an unbelievable (and probably a bit optimistic) 560-mile (900 km) range. The power gets a bump to 374 hp (275 kW), dropping the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time to 4.68 seconds. But where this car shines is the tech – its dual Nvidia Orin chips and blazing-fast 871V charging with a 355-mile (570 km) boost in just 15 minutes will change how you view EVs entirely. If road trips are your thing, this is the one to watch.
SU7 Max is where things get spicy. Dual motors, 673 hp, a combined 618 lb-ft (838 Nm) of torque, and a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 2.78 seconds – this thing's got genuine supercar-slaying power! Oh, and it still pulls off a respectable 500-mile (800 km) range. If you're wondering where the catch is, there really isn't one. Sure, these kinds of numbers are usually reserved for cars with six-figure price tags, but not here. Except that I bet there’ll be six-month waiting times if you want one.
Next up is the surprise nobody saw coming - Tesla Model S Plaid’s worst nightmare. Xiaomi wasn't playing around with the "FE" version. This bad boy makes 1,074 hp (770 kW) and an eye-watering 940 lb-ft (1,276 Nm) of torque. Forget rearranging your insides doing 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 1.98 seconds – it might just rearrange your whole outlook on life! Thankfully, it’s got 8-piston Brembo brakes to try and make it stop as fast as it goes. It even charges nearly as fast as the Pro version, adding 280 miles (450 km) of range in 15 minutes.
Here’s where things get really interesting. I was expecting eye-watering prices, especially for that Plaid-smashing FE model. But Xiaomi, bless their souls, decided to undercut everyone, and by a LOT. The base model starts around $30,000, the Pro around $36,000, the Max a still-crazy-good $41,500, and – get this – the ludicrous SU7 FE starts around $47,000! I repeat, less than HALF the price of a Tesla Model S Plaid. I could go on, but I think this makes my point.
Now, some reality here. These prices are for China only. My gut feeling is that Xiaomi will take their sweet time bringing it to other markets – maybe even rebrand it to something less...well, Chinese. But one thing’s for sure, if this leak holds true, Xiaomi has just flipped the whole EV world on its head. Time will tell if they can actually keep up with the demand, but as of right now, my hat’s off to them. Well played, Xiaomi, well played.
Yours truly,
Captain Electro
