China’s version of one of Ferrari’s most sought-after vehicles could soon be heading to Europe and the UK. From the outside, Xiaomi’s YU7 could almost pass as a Ferrari Purosangue, the first four-seater car ever built by the Italian marque.
Chinese phone and car manufacturer Xiaomi has confirmed that it plans to launch electric vehicles in Europe from 2027 after strong growth in Asia. The move could see the YU7 and the SU7 sedan enter the market within a couple of years in a major challenge to traditional brands. With the Xiaomi likely to sell for over £300,000 less than the Ferrari, the Chinese model is certain to leave tongues wagging.
Launching in China earlier this summer, the Xiaomi YU7 is a performance-focused SUV fitted with 681bhp. The model is said to be capable of up to 519 miles on a single charge and can top-up its battery from 10% to 80% in just 12 minutes.
The Xiaomi YU7 SUV is capable of reaching 157 mph (253 km/h) at top speed, down slightly on the Purosangue which stands at 193 mph (310 km/h). However, both cars have an almost identical acceleration with both models reaching 62mph in just 3.2 to 3.3 seconds.
YouTube channel @Wheelsboy stressed the model can be considered a rival to the Purosnague and other luxury brands despite its low cost.
He said: “People are very happy to be able to drive a car that looks like a luxury brand for a fraction of the price… This long hood and relatively low profile cabin would be familiar in the super SUV segment.
“We are talking about the [Ferrari] Purosangue, the Aston Martin DBX. But when it comes to mid-sized electric SUVs it’s positively alien. This thing at nearly 2m wide and about 1.6 metres in height looks absolutely sinister when parked next to other moe traditionally shaped, computer mouse shaped, electric SUVs.”
But, price is where Xiaomi’s design really comes into its own, with the base model starting at just £26,000 back home in China.
Higher-spec versions can cost road users around £33,500 in Asia and will likely be a bit higher if the brand ever launches the car in the UK. However, the price is still set to be considerably lower than the Ferrari Purosangue which could set road users back almost £365,000.