When it comes to automotive innovation, particularly electrification, China really is the wild, wild East. Drivers in the huge Asian country buy more battery-bolstered vehicles than in any other place on earth, and for good reason. Chinese manufacturers offer some intriguing products these days, cars and crossovers with loads of tech. And this includes the new Xiaomi YU7, a direct competitor to the popular Tesla Model Y, one that offers numerous benefits.
Tough Competition For The Tesla Model Y
According to an article published by CnEVPost.com, this vehicle is similar to the manufacturer’s SU7 utility vehicle, but it may prove to be much more popular. The YU7 recently went on sale, and reportedly Xiaomi received more than 200,000 pre-orders… in just three minutes, a staggering performance.
According to Lei Jun, the automaker’s CEO, this new SUV outperforms its main quarry, the Tesla Model Y, in every way. Overall, the YU7 is 196.8 inches long, has a wheelbase of 118.1 inches, and is a whisker shy of 63 inches tall. This makes the vehicle slightly larger than the Tesla, though the Model Y is about an inch taller. This all-electric SUV features a standard 96.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack, and you can also opt for a bigger 101.7 kilowatt-hours pack. The estimated range maxes out at 519 miles
The YU7 Standard and Pro models are fitted with a lithium iron-phosphate battery that clocks in at a hefty 96.3 kilowatt-hours. On the generous CLTC testing cycle, this pack provides up to 519 miles of estimated range for the Standard trim level, and 478 for the Pro version. But wait, there’s more… more battery capacity, that is. Xiaomi also offers a Max version of this utility vehicle, and it features a 101.7-kWh pack that should provide around 472 miles of range.
These estimates, even on the very generous Chinese testing cycle, are impressive, plus they give this Xiaomi appreciably longer legs than its rival from Tesla.
The Performance Is Damn Impressive, Too
The YU7 comes standard with a single motor driving the rear wheels. This should be good for around 316 horsepower, enough to accelerate this utility vehicle to 100 km/h (62 mph) in around 5.9 seconds, a legitimately quick performance.
Beyond that entry-level model, the available Pro and Max trim levels gain a front-mounted motor. This increases the output of the former trim level to 489 hp and the latter to 681 hp. That Max model can hit 100 km/h in around 3.23 seconds, an absolutely blistering performance, appreciably quicker than any version of the Model Y.
Priced To Sell
So, how much does the new Xiaomi YU7 cost? Well, the Standard trim starts at about $35,388, an undeniably impressive figure. The Pro model should kick off at $39,074 and the Max grade $46,054. Predictably, those figures should undercut the Tesla Model Y, another advantage for Xiaomi.
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