- Xiaomi has left Porsche reeling by pricing its new SU7 Ultra at ¥529,000 ($72,800).
- When pre-orders opened last October, Xiaomi said it would cost ¥814,900 ($112,000)
- The Ultra recently beat the 400% pricer Taycan Turbo GT’s Shanghai circuit laptime.
Spring is approaching and the weather in Stuttgart should be getting milder. But today the temperature in the Porsche HQ must have dropped about 10 degrees when Xiaomi revealed it is pricing its SU7 Ultra sedan more than 35 percent lower than previously suggested.
At the initial launch of the range-topping Ultra last October, Xiaomi said the EV would cost ¥814,900 ($112,000), matching the current price of the similarly-sized Tesla Model S Plaid. That was already bad news for Porsche, whose rivaling Taycan Turbo GT is ¥1,998,000 / $274,871 (it’s $230k in the US).
Related: Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Smashes Taycan Turbo GT’s Lap Record At Shanghai Circuit
But now at the car’s proper debut, the Chinese smartphone company-turned-automaker says the 1,527 hp four-door coupe will only set its customers back ¥529,000 ($72,800). That makes the Ultra around one quarter the price of the Taycan, which develops less power and was slower around the Shanghai International Circuit.
The triple-motor Ultra gets a single 386 hp (392 PS / 288 kW) power unit in the nose and a pair of 570 hp (578 PS / 425 kW) motors at the back. Total output is 1,526 hp (1,547 PS / 1,138 kW) and torque peaks at 1,306 lb-ft (1,770 Nm). That compares with 1,019 hp (1,034 PS / 760 kW) for the Taycan Turbo GT and Model S Plaid.
Beats Porsche on the track
Earlier this month Xiaomi said the Ultra had lapped the Shanghai International Circuit in 2:09.94, beating the Taycan’s time by almost 1.5 seconds. The Chinese car stormed to 201 mph (323 kmh) on the back straight, and is claimed to reach 62 mph (100 kmh) from rest in 1.98 seconds versus 2.1 seconds for the Porsche. Xiaomi says when not hot-lapping, the Ultra has a range of 392 miles (630 km), though that’s measured using China’s glass-half-full CLTC system.
An active rear diffuser, fixed carbon fiber rear spoiler and other aero aids create 285 kg (628 lbs) of downforce, but despite an available carbon fiber roof that comes with the optional “Racing Package” the Ultra still weighs close to 2,500 kg (5,511 lbs).
To help deal with that weight the chassis features torque vectoring, dual-chamber air springs and carbon brakes, while other goodies in the Racing Package include Bilstein EVO R coilover shocks, upgraded brake pads, Pirelli P Zero tires, a spare set of P Zero Trofeo RS track boots, forged 21-inch wheels and carbon rear wheel arch trims.
Low price, high demand
For $73k customers are getting an awful lot of car for the money. Even the hood badge is made from carbon fibre and 24 carat gold. Let’s hope it’s well glued down. And let’s hope for the sake of Porsche’s sales the Ultra isn’t exported to other markets because within 10 minutes of the Ultra’s debut almost 7,000 people had put down deposits.
The SU7 wasn’t the only Ultra product Xiaomi brand fans were talking about today. The company also launched a new smartphone, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, boss Lei Jun claiming the two Ultras were part of its move into high-end products.
