Xiaomi SU7: First look

Flagship-like specs for mid value money, that’s been Xiaomi’s game plan in the consumer electronics market since its inception, making it quite popular and known for its value for money proposition. And that seems to be the same card they played for their first foray into the automobile segment as well - a luxury sports sedan. Available only in China, the SU7 starts at an amount equivalent to a top end Tata Safari with the headline specs close to that of a Porsche Taycan. You won’t be able to buy it anytime soon as it is only doing the rounds globally on a promotional tour. While it was in India, we got a quick look at the car. Here’s what you need to know. 

Xiaomi SU7 powertrain

Let’s go through those specs. 664bhp, 838Nm, 0-100 in 2.78 seconds, 0-200kmph in 10.67 seconds and a range of 700km with a 76.3kWh battery. Speaking of aerodynamics, this car boasts a coefficient of drag value of 0.195, making it among the most aerodynamically sleek vehicles on sale. For reference, a Mercedes-Benz EQS has a Cd value of 0.2. Which brings me to the design of the car.

Xiaomi SU7 exterior

We didn’t get a lot of time with the car, but a quick glance at the SU7 gave me the impression that it is an amalgamation of a few existing cars. Like I see the McLaren 720S in the headlights, the overall silhouette bears a resemblance to a Porsche Taycan and the steering wheel is Lamborghini-esque, with AMG style drive mode selectors. At the rear is a spoiler that auto adjusts its angle as per its speed for aerodynamics or can be manually adjusted, probably for aesthetics. The tyres, provided by Pirelli, are a staggered setup, with 245mm in the front and 265mm in the rear on 21-inch, sporty-looking wheels. 

Xiaomi SU7 interior

As I stepped inside, I was expecting to be greeted by a big screen, as is the norm in China. And I wasn’t disappointed. The infotainment screen is a 16.1-inch unit and the steering has controls for drive modes, ADAS and other functions. Place the key card on the charging pad and the car comes to life, which is signalled by the instrument cluster opening up behind the steering wheel. The upholstery is a mix of alcantara, suede and leatherette and no hard plastic has been used on the inside. The roof is just glass, tinted and UV protected, but it cannot be opened.

Xiaomi SU7 plans for India

I can go on about the various functions of the car, especially the connected features, but that's not the point of it. Xiaomi does not intend to launch this car in India, or in fact anywhere else apart from China at least for the next three years. And it's a good call, because this is the first ever car made by Xiaomi and it had an announcement for an on-sale gestation period of just 1000 days. To succeed in other markets, they would need far more research, supply chain management and other intricacies in place. 

The reason Xiaomi is showcasing the SU7 to us is to showcase the vision of the brand for the next 10 years. They already have smart consumer electronics that can cover your home and workplace, and now introducing a car covers the journey as well. So they are looking to create an ecosystem that covers all touchpoints we visit. This is also a glimpse of how our future may look like - surrounded by smart devices and having control of all devices from just about anywhere.