Xiaomi has set another Nürburgring record for its EV, but this time without a human driver behind the wheel.
As confirmed by Nürburgring, the Xiaomi YU7 GT equipped with the Track Package has become the first vehicle to complete an officially recorded autonomous lap around the Nordschleife. The electric SUV recorded a lap time of 10:29.483 around the 20.832km circuit while driving under autonomous control.
While a 10-minute lap seems far from record-breaking territory, the achievement is significant considering the Nordschleife is regarded as one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, featuring more than 70 corners and dramatic elevation changes.
Just 3 minutes 7 seconds slower than a professional racing driver
What makes the result even more impressive is how it compares against Xiaomi’s own Nürburgring benchmark.
Back in May, Belgian racing driver Vincent Radermecker had driven a Xiaomi YU7 GT equipped with the optional Track Package around the Nordschleife in 7:22.755 which set the first official Nürburgring record for an electric SUV.
This means the autonomous YU7 GT completed the lap just 3 minutes 7 seconds slower than a professional racing driver behind the wheel.
Looking at average speeds, the autonomous lap worked out to approximately 119km/h over the entire 20.832km circuit. In comparison, the record-setting human-driven lap averaged about 169km/h.
For safety, the autonomous YU7 GT drove most sections at around 140-150km/h and peaked at 210km/h on the final straight. As a comparison, same EV driven by a professional racing driver reached a top speed of 299km/h.
You can watch the record setting lap below:
Xiaomi YU7 GT specs and features
The GT sits at the top of the YU7 lineup and is currently Xiaomi’s most powerful electric SUV. However, performance-wise, it still sits below the SU7 Ultra sedan which boasts over 1,548 hp, insane 0-100km/h time of 1.98 seconds and a top speed of 350km/h.
The YU7 GT features a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain that delivers 738kW (1,004hp), enabling a 0-100km/h sprint in just 2.92 seconds and a top speed of 300km/h. Xiaomi also claims up to 705km of CLTC-rated driving range from its 101.7kWh NMC battery on a 897V platform that supports 5.2C high-rate DC charging.
It also comes equipped with Akebono six-piston calipers and carbon-ceramic brakes, dual-chamber air suspension, CDC variable dampers and an electronic limited-slip differential
