Xiaomi Tests SU7 Ultra at Nürburgring
Xiaomi is testing a high-downforce SU7 Ultra at the Nürburgring as it seeks to reclaim the production EV lap record from Porsche.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Performance Vehicles
Xiaomi was spotted testing a regular SU7 Ultra prototype at the Nürburgring without the fixed motorsport-style spoiler and aggressive rear diffuser of its track-focused variant. The company is developing a high-downforce version to challenge Porsche's production EV lap record.
Why it matters
The Nürburgring is a benchmark for performance cars, and lap records there are closely watched by enthusiasts and manufacturers. Porsche's recent Manthey Taycan Turbo GT record puts Xiaomi under pressure to respond with its own high-performance EV.
The stock SU7 Ultra produces 1,526 hp from a triple-motor setup, and its 2025 Nürburgring EV production lap time was 7:04.957. Porsche's Manthey Taycan Turbo GT set a faster 6:55.553 in May, and the final output of Xiaomi's high-downforce version has not been disclosed.
The players
Xiaomi
Xiaomi is a Chinese electronics and electric vehicle manufacturer that has rapidly expanded into performance EVs with the SU7 lineup.
Porsche
Porsche is a German luxury sports car manufacturer whose Manthey-built Taycan Turbo GT currently holds the Nürburgring EV record.
Manthey
Manthey is a Nürburg-based motorsport tuning company in which Porsche holds a stake, known for its performance modifications to Porsche models.
The details
The regular SU7 Ultra prototype uses an active spoiler that rises from the trunk lid above 50 mph, instead of the fixed motorsport-style spoiler and rear diffuser seen on the track variant. The stock triple-motor setup places one motor at the front axle and two at the rear, while Manthey's Taycan package adds more aggressive aero and wider arch extensions.
Timeline
2024: Xiaomi showed a quad-motor EV platform rated at 1,526 hp.
2025: The SU7 Ultra set the Nürburgring EV production lap record at 7:04.957.
May 2026: Porsche's Manthey Taycan Turbo GT set a 6:55.553 Nürburgring EV record.
November 3, 2026: Reports on Xiaomi's Nürburgring testing were published.
Roadmap
Xiaomi's push at the Nürburgring follows Porsche's May 2026 Manthey Taycan Turbo GT record of 6:55.553, which set the benchmark for production EV lap times on the circuit. The contest reflects a broader competition among automakers to demonstrate performance credibility for electric vehicles on demanding European test tracks.
Buyers interested in high-output EVs will see that a regular SU7 Ultra can already produce 1,526 hp, but a track-focused version would add aero hardware that the standard car lacks. Anyone considering a performance EV should weigh the road-going output against the track-oriented variants being developed.
The takeaway
Performance EV claims are increasingly judged on verifiable track times, so reading lap records alongside stock specifications helps separate real capability from marketing. Xiaomi's testing shows how quickly new entrants are targeting established benchmarks.
Further reading
Explore more on Performance Vehicles for context on how high-output EVs are competing on track.
