Does Xiaomi Auto aim to justify the “high performance” of the YU7 series with the “Ultra” version?
The Nürburgring, one of the world’s top race tracks, has been abuzz with excitement over the past two years.
It has now become a litmus test for Chinese automakers: Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra proved its mettle here, while the Lotus team also brought Geely’s Galaxy M9 for “training” sessions…
Not long ago, @纽北社会人 (a handle known for tracking Nürburgring tests) released several spy photos of a “familiar-looking” test vehicle. Judging from the style of its camouflage stickers and design, it’s clear the car is from Xiaomi – possibly a derivative of the YU7.
Netizens have been speculating wildly: some believe it will be the “Ultra” version of the Xiaomi YU7, while others think the new model might be named “YU7 GT.” Many even predict its Nürburgring lap time will be “around 7 minutes and 20 seconds.”
One netizen joked, “Think the YU7 isn’t sporty enough? We’ll give you a dose of sportiness,” viewing the new car as a “sporty variant of the YU7.”
The SU7 Ultra’s lap time at the Nürburgring has reinforced the market’s perception of Xiaomi Automotive as a “high-performance” brand. However, despite the YU7’s inherent sporty positioning, many netizens who test-drove it have commented that while its power specs and hardware are impressive on paper, the driving experience feels more like a “family car.”
Could it be that Xiaomi Automotive hopes to use an “Ultra” version to validate the “high-performance” credentials of the YU7 series?
A Higher-Performance YU7?
Let’s take a closer look: compared to the current Xiaomi YU7 on sale, the test vehicle has two noticeable differences.
First, the test car’s wheel and caliper setup differs from the current YU7 – its design is more similar to that of the SU7 Ultra. There’s even a possibility it is equipped with carbon-ceramic brake discs.
Images from another angle show that the test car’s front and rear wheel arches have been widened, presumably to accommodate wider tires.
Whether this suspected “YU7 Ultra” is equipped with the same 1,500 PS triple-motor powertrain as the SU7 Ultra, or features the same front splitter air curtains and large rear wing, remains unknown for now.
“High performance” is not an exclusive label for sports coupes – many traditional luxury brands have dabbled in high-performance SUVs. Models like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT and Audi RSQ8 have even achieved impressive lap times at the Nürburgring.
The Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, for example, once set a Nürburgring lap time of 7 minutes 38.925 seconds, breaking the record for the SUV category.
As for the Xiaomi YU7, it previously gained popularity as the official medical vehicle for the China Super Car Championship. Testing its limits at the Nürburgring or developing a more extreme “Ultra” version would be a viable way to enhance Xiaomi’s brand image.
But for those who purchased the YU7 Max for its high-performance promise, will the arrival of the “YU7 Ultra” stir up mixed feelings?
What Do YU7 Owners Want?
Mr. Hao’s car-buying journey was impulsive: he purchased both the SU7 Ultra and YU7 Max without test-driving them in advance.
For the YU7 Max, his expectation was a vehicle that “combines high technology with sporty DNA” – he even drove the YU7 Max on a professional race track.
However, he openly admits that the YU7 Max “doesn’t feel like a Xiaomi car.”
“In terms of handling, it’s a world apart from the SU7. To be honest, I’m not impressed with the YU7 Max’s chassis tuning, which overemphasizes comfort and family usability. But as an SUV, this outcome is understandable,” he said.
Upon seeing the leaked images of the “YU7 Ultra,” Mr. Hao expressed two conflicting emotions: “anticipation” and “feeling betrayed.” His intuition tells him, “If there’s an Ultra version of the YU7, that should be the one with full-fat handling.”
Other YU7 owners in his car club share similar views. Regarding the leaked “YU7 Ultra,” they are more looking forward to its sporty handling, while being fully satisfied with other aspects of the existing YU7.
Mr. Hao also mentioned that it would be great if Xiaomi could roll out an over-the-air (OTA) update for existing YU7 models to add a more handling-focused sport mode.
In other words, what everyone cares most about is the YU7’s sporty handling – and from this perspective, the “YU7 Ultra” may better align with their “expectations” for the YU7.
These are all just speculations, though. Currently, information about the YU7 derivative is extremely limited, and we can only wait for more details to emerge.
Does Xiaomi Still Need the “YU7 Ultra”?
The Xiaomi YU7 is already the brand’s sales pillar. According to Xiaomi’s official mini-program, the delivery time for the standard YU7 is 52-55 weeks, and even the Max version takes 37-40 weeks – a clear sign of its popularity as a “bestseller.” So, is there still a need for Xiaomi to develop an Ultra model?
Not long ago, news emerged that Xiaomi Automotive had adjusted the sales system for the SU7 Ultra: sales rights for the model were opened to all Xiaomi Automotive sales staff, while “Ultra Master” sales were reclassified as “senior sales” and tasked with meeting sales targets for models including the SU7 and YU7.
Netizens interpreted this move as a response to “sluggish sales” of the Ultra model. Despite its solid Nürburgring lap time and high cost-performance ratio, many netizens argued that restrictions on horsepower and the use of a carbon fiber hood failed to meet their expectations, posing challenges to the SU7 Ultra’s sales.
Nevertheless, the significance of Ultra models lies in bolstering Xiaomi’s high-performance brand identity and offering more diverse choices to the consumer market. Furthermore, managing market expectations for Ultra models is crucial for sustaining Xiaomi’s reputation in the long run.
The same logic applies to the YU7 derivative: an Ultra version could raise the performance ceiling of the YU7 series. Setting a new Nürburgring record would further deepen the market’s impression of the YU7 line, while also allowing consumers with sufficient budgets to “get the best version right away.”
Would you look forward to the arrival of the “YU7 Ultra”?
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