{"id":33587,"date":"2024-11-01T16:13:30","date_gmt":"2024-11-01T20:13:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=33587"},"modified":"2024-11-04T15:41:15","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T19:41:15","slug":"payne-chinese-ev-smashes-porsche-taycan-nurburgring-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/payne-chinese-ev-smashes-porsche-taycan-nurburgring-record","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Chinese EV smashes Porsche Taycan Nu\u0308rburgring record"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">It\u2019s been a tough week for the German auto industry \u2014 and it just got gloomier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Volkswagen AG\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/story\/business\/autos\/foreign\/2024\/10\/31\/vw-unveils-cost-saving-plan-that-may-keep-german-plants-open\/75963077007\/\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|${u}\">threatened three plant closures<\/a>\u00a0in Germany (and a fourth in Belgium) as the automaker groans under high costs and the country\u2019s green energy and automotive transition. The plant closings in its home country would be the first in the company\u2019s 87-year history. That shocker was followed by Chinese EV automaker Xiaomi, recently\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/10\/29\/business\/ford-ceo-jim-farley-slammed-for-driving-chinese-electric-vehicle\/\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|${u}\">praised by Ford CEO Jim Farley<\/a>, breaking German performance icon Porsche\u2019s electric vehicle lap record at Germany\u2019s legendary Nu\u0308rburgring racetrack.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The Nu\u0308rburgring is the world\u2019s most challenging track and a performance benchmark that Porsche has long dominated. A Porsche holds the outright lap record (919 Hybrid Evo race car), the gas-fired lap record for a series production car (911 GT2 RS), and now . . . well, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra sportscar holds the (unofficial) EV record, smashing the Porsche Taycan\u2019s mark. As Germany forces automakers to ditch petrol-fired cars by 2035, the record is another sign that the Chinese see EV mandates as their market opening.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2024\/10\/31\/PDTN\/75973227007-xiaomi-su-7-ultra-rr-34.jpg?width=990&amp;height=743&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" width=\"555\" height=\"416\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_mo_cap gnt_em_mo_cc__swd\"><em>Xiaomi SU7 Ultra<\/em><\/div>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_mo_crd gnt_em_mo_cc__swd\"><em>Xiaomi, Xiaomi<\/em><\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The Porsche Taycan still officially holds the EV lap record at 7:07.55 minutes, but the staggering, 6:46.87-minute lap on a partially-damp track thrown down by a prototype version of the 1,548-horsepower Xiaomi SU7 Ultra was an intentional shot across the bow of one of Europe\u2019s most revered performance brands. On the 13-mile track, the Ultra hit speeds as high as 200 mph. A $213,995 Turbo GT version of the Taycan earlier this year eclipsed the 1,020-horse Tesla Model Plaid record of 7:35.58 minutes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">When the SU7 Ultra \u2014 a performance version of the standard SU7 EV \u2014 goes into production in March next year, it is expected to return for the official record.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_vp gnt_em_vp__yt\" data-g-r=\"vp_tp\" data-c-vt=\"youtube\" aria-label=\"YouTube video\" aria-live=\"polite\"><a class=\"gnt_em_vp_a gnt_em_vp__yt_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5I7M-ZrvawY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-g-r=\"vp_tg\" data-c-vpattrs=\"{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;5I7M-ZrvawY&quot;, &quot;id&quot;:&quot;75972184007&quot;}\" aria-label=\"Play YouTube video\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_vp_img\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/5I7M-ZrvawY\/maxresdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"566\" height=\"318\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/a><\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Xiaomi, owned by one of China\u2019s largest smartphone makers, dropped the lap-time news the same week it opened pre-sales of the SU7 Ultra at the price of $114,200. The EV is aimed squarely at the six-figure Taycan, Porsche\u2019s first electric four-door sedan, which went on sale in 2020.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">It even looks like a Taycan with similar, racy, coupe-style roof and body style \u2014 save the headlights that echo a McLaren 720 supercar. It&#8217;s familiar, knock-off Chinese styling as brands try to mimic design in the western markets they are entering.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2024\/10\/31\/PDTN\/75973229007-xiaomi-su-7-ultra-fr-34-sea.jpg?width=990&amp;height=743&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra sportscar holds the (unofficial) EV record for lap time at the legendary Nu\u0308rburgring racetrack.\" data-c-credit=\"Xiaomi, Xiaomi\">\n<div class=\"gnt_em_mo_cap gnt_em_mo_cc__swd\"><em>The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra sportscar holds the (unofficial) EV record for lap time at the legendary Nu\u0308rburgring racetrack.<\/em><\/div>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_mo_crd gnt_em_mo_cc__swd\"><em>Xiaomi, Xiaomi<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Styling aside, analysts are impressed with how fast the Chinese have progressed in EV manufacturing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThe Chinese are on-par with \u2014 and in some cases out-engineering \u2014 European and U.S. EV makers. Save design, the Chinese are comparable in performance, features and time to market,\u201d said auto analyst and investor Anton Wahlman, who points to the strides Chinese companies have made since the\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/story\/business\/autos\/foreign\/2019\/04\/17\/chinese-qiantu-k-50-electric-supercar-targets-united-states-new-york-auto-show\/3494965002\/\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|${u}\">$100,000 Qiantu K50 electric supercar was teased<\/a>\u00a0at the New York Auto Show in 2019. Qiantu didn\u2019t follow through in international markets, though U.S. distributor Mullen Automotive last year rebadged it the Mullen GT for sale here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Those impressed with China\u2019s progress include Ford\u2019s Farley, who has been test driving a standard $30,000 Xiaomi SU7 sedan.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2024\/10\/31\/PDTN\/75973228007-xiaomi-su-7-ultra-int.jpg?width=990&amp;height=743&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" width=\"509\" height=\"382\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"A center screen anchors the dash in the SU7 Ultra.\" data-c-credit=\"Xiaomi, Xiaomi\">\n<div class=\"gnt_em_mo_cap gnt_em_mo_cc__swd\"><em>A center screen anchors the dash in the SU7 Ultra.<\/em><\/div>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_mo_crd gnt_em_mo_cc__swd\"><em>Xiaomi, Xiaomi<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cWe flew one from Shanghai to Chicago, and I\u2019ve been driving it for six months now and I don\u2019t want to give it up,\u201d Farley, a licensed race driver, recently told \u201c<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PGx7AyD9okg\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|${u}\">The Fully Charged Podcast<\/a>\u201d host Robert Llewellyn. Like models from other Chinese brands, a Xiaomi would face a 100% tariff were it imported into the United States.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cI don\u2019t like talking about the competition so much, but I drive the Xiaomi,\u201d\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/10\/29\/business\/ford-ceo-jim-farley-slammed-for-driving-chinese-electric-vehicle\/\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|${u}\">Farley told Llewellyn<\/a>. \u201cEveryone\u2019s talking about the Apple car, but the Xiaomi car (is) fantastic. They\u2019re selling 10,000 or 20,000 of them a month; they\u2019re sold out for six months. That is an industry juggernaut, and a consumer brand that is much stronger than car companies.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_vp gnt_em_vp__yt\" data-g-r=\"vp_tp\" data-c-vt=\"youtube\" aria-label=\"YouTube video\" aria-live=\"polite\"><a class=\"gnt_em_vp_a gnt_em_vp__yt_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PGx7AyD9okg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-g-r=\"vp_tg\" data-c-vpattrs=\"{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;PGx7AyD9okg&quot;, &quot;id&quot;:&quot;75972699007&quot;}\" aria-label=\"Play YouTube video\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_vp_img\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/PGx7AyD9okg\/maxresdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"569\" height=\"320\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/a><\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra received 3,680 pre-orders 10 minutes after pre-sales began, as the company looks to build on China\u2019s EV European gains. Chinese brands have made inroads in the nascent European EV market with 11% market share, though EVs&#8217; market share slumped to 18% this summer after rising over 20% in late 2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Chinese automakers account for only about 3% of new car sales in Germany, but 8% of the market for battery-electric vehicles. Chinese brands selling in Germany include BYD, MG and NIO. Like California, the United States\u2019 largest auto market, the EU plans to eliminate the sale of internal combustion vehicles by 2035.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThe Chinese have gotten lucky with Europe\u2019s forced transition to EVs,\u201d said analyst Wahlman who splits his time between the United States and Europe. \u201cThey are entering the auto market with new technology at the same time that legacy automakers are also just starting with electric models. So everyone is starting from Square One.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The SU7 electric sedan went on sale in China in March, offering three variants \u2014 Standard, Pro and Max \u2014 with the Ultra unveiled in July as a halo model. The car was on display at last summer\u2019s Paris Olympics, but it will likely be two or three years before Xiaomi exports to Europe.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2024\/10\/31\/PDTN\/75973226007-xiaomi-su-7-lineup.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The $114k Xiaomi SU7 Ultra (not pictured) is the halo in the SU7 lineup.\" width=\"515\" height=\"290\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The $114k Xiaomi SU7 Ultra (not pictured) is the halo in the SU7 lineup.\" data-c-credit=\"Xiaomi\">\n<div class=\"gnt_em_mo_cap gnt_em_mo_cc__swd\"><em>The $114k Xiaomi SU7 Ultra (not pictured) is the halo in the SU7 lineup.<\/em><\/div>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_mo_crd gnt_em_mo_cc__swd\"><em>Xiaomi<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The SU7 Ultra is built on an 800-volt platform and derives its power from three electric motors for a combined output of 1,548 ponies. Xiamo claims the Ultra can rocket from 0-100 km\/h (62 mph) in just under two seconds, with a top speed of 217 mph.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Like its goal to be a Top 5 global automaker as governments mandate non-ICE vehicles, Xiaomi has work to do. The Nu\u0308rburgring Ultra tester was a stripped-down prototype featuring a racing steering wheel and elementary dash. At the 4:10 minute mark, the accelerator pedal failed, and the driver had to jab it several times before it awoke.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Wahlman said the track lap should wake up a few auto executives. \u201cThe Chinese aren\u2019t gaining European share on cheap prices as much as they are offering content-rich vehicles like a BYD ATTO 3 versus a Volkswagen ID.3,\u201d said the analyst. \u201cIt\u2019s shocking how fast the Chinese have moved up the learning curve.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or @HenryEPayne<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s been a tough week for the German auto industry \u2014 and it just got gloomier. Volkswagen AG\u00a0threatened three plant closures\u00a0in Germany (and a fourth in Belgium) as the automaker groans under high costs and the country\u2019s green energy and automotive transition. The plant closings in its home country would be the first in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33587"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33587"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33590,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33587\/revisions\/33590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}