Launched just last year as part of Xiaomi’s ambitious “Human × Car × Home” smart ecosystem, the SU7 Ultra is a lap record breaking machine. Beneath its bonnet lies Xiaomi’s self-developed HyperEngine V8s tri-motor setup, good for 1526hp and a ferocious 0–100 km/h sprint in just 1.98 seconds.

Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi himself took the car for a spin in Beijing and was reportedly left rather impressed. “Xiaomi’s courage, curiosity and passion resonate profoundly with the philosophy of Gran Turismo,” he said, calling the SU7 Ultra “exceptional” and a standout representation of China’s rapid progress in automotive engineering.

The SU7 Ultra has been recreated for Gran Turismo 7 with help from Xiaomi’s own engineers. Everything from its torque-vectoring wizardry to the featherweight carbon-fibre elements that make up 5.5m² of its body will be faithfully translated into the game.

The two companies are already plotting their next move: a “VISION GRAN TURISMO” concept car, which, if history is any indication, will be part engineering flex, part design fever dream.

Lei Jun, Founder and CEO of Xiaomi, summed it up neatly: “Our shared values paved the way for this collaboration.” 

The inclusion of SU7 Ultra in Gran Turismo 7 also marks a first for Xiaomi, but more importantly, it’s a nod to the growing legitimacy of Chinese automakers on the global stage.

Once seen as underdogs, brands like Xiaomi are now breaking performance records and entering cultural icons like Gran Turismo, a franchise long dominated by legacy players.

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Xiaomi, the Chinese giant we all know for smartphones and electronics, will soon be taking on the automotive sector. On December 28, they unveiled their very first electric car model. 

It’s called the SU7, and ‘SU’ isn’t just any acronym; it stands for “Speed Ultra”. Lei Jun is pitching this sedan as a “technological marvel”, boasting a “super electric motor” that promises to leave even Tesla and Porsche’s EVs in the dust.

Bold claim, isn’t it?

Xiaomi’s flashy debut comes at a time when China’s auto market – the largest globally – is grappling with its own set of challenges. There’s an excess in capacity and a dip in demand, sparking a price war that’s brutal.

But does that deter Lei? Not at all. He’s set his sights on making Xiaomi a top-five global automaker in the next 15 to 20 years, aiming to elevate China’s automobile industry.

He’s dreaming of creating one that can stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Porsche and Tesla. That’s a tall order, but then again, Xiaomi is no stranger to climbing steep mountains.

So what sets the SU7 apart? Apparently, it’s an extension of Xiaomi’s already popular ecosystem. Imagine seamless integration with Xiaomi’s mobile apps and devices.

Bill Russo, CEO of Shanghai-based Automobility, points out Xiaomi’s unique position. With a strong base of ‘Mi Fans’ already hooked onto their smart devices, Xiaomi’s foray into smart cars could be a game-changer.

The SU7 will roll out in two versions: one with a driving range of up to 668km and another stretching up to 800km on a single charge.

Tesla’s Model S maxes out at around 650km, in case you need a direct comparison.

Pricing details are still under wraps, but Lei hints that it’ll be a premium tag, yet one that’ll make everyone “nod in agreement”. 

Xiaomi, currently ranked fifth in China’s smartphone market, is charting a new course beyond its core business. This move into EVs, first signalled in 2021, mirrors a broader trend among Chinese tech giants like Huawei and Baidu.

With a commitment to pour US$10 billion into autos over a decade, Xiaomi is one of the few new entrants in China’s EV market to get the green light from authorities. Their cars will be rolling out of a Beijing factory run by a unit of state-owned automaker BAIC Group, boasting an annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles.

In the crowded Chinese EV market, Xiaomi’s biggest rival is likely to be BYD, which holds a one-third market share, while Tesla has a 9 per cent slice.

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