Tech company Xiaomi has already cemented itself as a formidable competitor in the electric vehicle (EV) space. The SU7 electric sports sedan already shattered lap records at the Nurburgring, when the Ultra version with the optional Track Package completed the track in just 7 minutes, 4.957 seconds. Though that record-setting pace for production EVs has since been shattered by the updated Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with the optional Manthey Kit, you have to remember that the Chinese automaker still has another vehicle in its stable. Say hello to the Xiaomi YU7 GT, which has 990 horsepower and has now claimed the fastest production SUV title around the Nurburgring.
Just how fast did this family crossover SUV go around the 20.8-kilometer track? Well, it did the run in just 7 minutes 34.931 seconds–which is a narrow 1.8 seconds faster than the previous record holder, the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8-powered Audi RS Q8 Performance. The lap time was set by Xiaomi’s chief test driver Ren Zhoucan, who the company says is also the first Chinese driver to hold a lap record around the Nurburgring.
How did the YU7 GT achieve this feat? The GT variant is the pinnacle of the YU7 range, yet in Xiaomi’s hierarchy, GT sits below Ultra. Yes, while 990 horsepower out of its dual electric motors is impressive, it is way less than the SU7 Ultra’s three electric motors that produce 1,527 horsepower. Take note, a Porsche Macan Turbo Electric offers at most 630 horsepower. Still, at 990 horses, that’s enough for a 2.95-second 0-100 kph time in an EV that costs a fraction of the Macan Turbo Electric.
But the Xiaomi YU7 GT needs more than horsepower to perform well around a very twisty track like the Nurburgring. That’s why Xiaomi gave it a beefed-up air suspension system, rear-axle torque vectoring, and software tweaks to the vehicle’s dynamics and traction control system. This is where you can really tell that Xiaomi certainly knows how to tune a vehicle properly for sporty driving dynamics. Furthermore, the YU7 GT also gets optional Brembo carbon ceramic brakes.
On the outside, the Xiaomi YU7 GT has a slightly revised and sportier front end that’s characterized by enlarged air intakes. While the side profile looks largely similar, the YU7 GT sets itself apart with its wider wheel arches to accommodate the wider track. The YU7 GT also gets larger 21-inch wheels, along with a more prominent rear spoiler and rear diffuser.
Inside, the Xiaomi YU7 GT looks similar to the standard model, but it has been imbued with sporty details such as a carbon fiber steering wheel, sportier and heavily bolstered seats, and the choice of a red and black interior in Alcantara. There’s, of course, the expected GT badging across the interior as well.
Like the standard YU7 models, the GT still features a large 16.1-inch screen and a full-width display at the base of the windshield, BMW Panoramic iDrive-style, which runs Xiaomi’s in-house software ecosystem, which enables the vehicle to connect to other Xiaomi accessories. Speaking of which, accessories are indeed part of the YU7’s appeal, as you can fit numerous optional extras, such as bringing back physical controls, not to mention the numerous docks and storage solutions you can add to the interior.
Xiaomi’s EV business does not have an official presence in the Philippines yet. For now, all you can do is feast your eyes on the YU7 GT’s record-breaking performance. The YU7 GT is also set to go on sale in China on May 21, just over a month after making its public debut at the 2026 Auto China in Beijing.
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