While some tech giants like Apple have ditched plans to enter the automotive world, others have already taken this giant step. Xiaomi, a Chinese company mostly known for its smartphones, is the latest newcomer looking to cash in on the electric vehicle game.
Its first car is called the Xiaomi SU7 and guns for the likes of the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S. The battery-electric sedan kicks off at just under $30,000 locally for the 295 horsepower rear-wheel drive variant, going up to $41,500 for the 663 horsepower all-wheel drive model. Thus, it would be cheaper than the Tesla Model 3 in our market and the Hyundai Kona Electric.
The tech giant based in the People's Republic managed to secure no fewer than 50,000 orders in less than half an hour after launching the SUV7, proving that there is interest in vehicles from companies that are only now tapping into the car-making game. This success has fueled the brand's desire to expand its portfolio, and such crossovers and SUVs are extremely popular nowadays, its second product will be a high-rider.
You see, while the SU7 sedan utilizes the so-called Modena platform, it would be natural to assume that so will the upcoming crossover. However, reports indicate that it might be based on a different construction. The reason is that besides the battery-electric power, the upcoming SU8, whose name hasn't been confirmed, is expected to feature a range-extending option, thus putting an end to the range anxiety and attracting more customers to the brand.
Photo: Instagram | sugardesign_1
As you can assume, we don't know what it will look like yet. However, the rendering world is already trying to decipher its design secrets. Thus, we have already come face to face with several unofficial digital illustrations, which have recently expanded to include the ones shared in the image gallery above. The CGIs in question were the work of sugardesign_1 on Instagram, and if they look familiar, it is because we've already seen this idea a couple of days ago, albeit in a different hue.
The pixel manipulator took an already visually appealing super crossover, the Ferrari Purosangue, and modified it accordingly. The so-called Xiaomi SU8 has front and rear ends inspired by the SU7, a sexy profile with a sloping roofline, rear-hinged back doors, hidden rear door handles, and muscular shoulders, and it looks ready to take a swing at other similarly-sized products.
But when will it do that? Unofficial data points to the Chinese company introducing it later this year, and it should further boost Xiaomi's worth from the current $55+ billion. So, would you buy an EV from a brand that has only recently entered the car world, or would you pay more for something from a well-known manufacturer?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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