Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Prototype Beats Lotus Evija X With A New Nürburgring Lap Record

In April 2024, the Lotus Evija X – the hardcore version of the production Evija hypercar – did the impossible – it set a 6:24.047 lap record at the Nürburgring that’s faster than the Mercedes-AMG One. Though a prototype, Lotus claims a unique title for the record run: the quickest car around Green Hell with a production-spec chassis. In the same year, Xiaomi tried to chase that record with the SU7 Ultra Prototype, but it failed, though that run was nothing short of spectacular.

But Xiaomi isn’t letting go of that distinction. In fact, the Chinese tech giant, known for smartphones and other smart appliances, went back to the ‘Ring to give the record another go. This time, under optimal conditions, the SU7 Ultra Prototype clocked in 6:22.091, or 24 seconds quicker than its previous run, beating the Evija X by nearly 2 seconds. You can watch the onboard video of that blazing lap at the bottom of this story.

Only Three Names Claim Faster Times Than Xiaomi

That said, the SU7 Ultra Prototype is now the fourth-fastest car at the Nürburgring. The only nameplates above it on the list are the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo (5:19.546), the Volkswagen ID.R (6:05.336), and the Porsche 956 Group C race car, which unofficially set the record at 06:11.13 for over three decades.

As its name suggests, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Prototype isn’t an electric sedan you can buy. But just like the Evija X, it’s based on a production model called the SU7 Ultra, which set its own record for a production EV a few weeks ago. Engineered for the sole purpose of conquering Germany’s treacherous circuit, the prototype sports ultra-lightweight body kits and an optimized suspension setup, though its trimotor setup, with a combined output of up to 1,527 horsepower, is its greatest weapon at hand.

The prototype was also running non-street-legal tires, which gave it the substantial advantage over its production counterpart.

Lotus Still Has A Chance To Reclaim The Title

Lotus may have lost the title to Xiaomi, but it’s important to note that the British marque promised to return to the track to set faster lap times. When it set the record last year, it was noted that the conditions weren’t optimal – in fact, the track was damp, and the company said “Watch this space” in relation to a possible re-do.

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However, the Evija X suffered a major crash at last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. The hypercar sustained substantial damage during the short-lived hill climb, so we’re not expecting the company to try its luck at the ‘Ring anytime soon.