Chinese Super Sedan Owners Furious Over Fake Aero Ducts In $6K Aero Hood

Xiaomi has apologized and is offering customers the option to change to an aluminum hood

                                        https://www.carscoops.com/author/bradcarscoops-com/                                    

Owners of the Xiaomi SU7 have been quick to share their enthusiasm for the innovative electric vehicle, but they’ve also been equally eager to voice their concerns when things go south. Recently, this has included a backlash over a software update that drastically reduced the SU7 Ultra’s peak power from a 1,526 horsepower to a more modest 888 hp. Now, the latest source of frustration is the optional carbon fiber hood.

This new carbon fiber hood comes with a hefty price tag of 42,000 yuan, or about $5,800, and takes its design cues from the hood seen on the original SU7 Ultra prototype. It’s equipped with a pair of huge air ducts that Xiaomi claims enhance cooling. However, several Chinese automotive bloggers recently put the hood to the test, only to find it provides virtually no extra air flow, meaning it’s a mostly cosmetic, and not a performance upgrade.

Read: Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra Software Upgrade Was A 650-HP Downgrade

One blogger, as reported by CarNewsChina, conducted a simple test by placing a piece of paper near the vents and positioning a fan at the front of the car. The result? The paper remained perfectly still, proving that the cooling benefits were nonexistent. It’s a bit of an embarrassing reveal for Xiaomi.

The Chinese automaker moved quickly to address the issue. It issued an apology, clarifying that the hood was primarily intended to mimic the design of the one from the SU7 Ultra prototype. Furthermore, Xiaomi admitted that the carbon fiber hood option was never part of the original plan during the development of the production model.

To pacify disgruntled customers, the company announced that those with undelivered orders could switch to the standard aluminum hood. For those who had already received their cars with the carbon fiber hood, Xiaomi promised 20,000 reward points, which translate to a meager 2,000 yuan, or around $275 at current exchange rates.

Understandably, this gesture has done little to satisfy everyone. Reports suggest that up to 300 owners have banded together to demand full vehicle refunds, with many feeling that the promised upgrade was little more than an overpriced piece of carbon fiber with no real benefits to back it up.

While Xiaomi has built a brilliant performance sedan with the SU7 Ultra, it seems its marketing team needs to improve its messaging, as any slip-up or using too much hyperbole may come back to bite it.