5 Minutes
East meets West on the quarter-mile
A summertime showdown in the UK pitched China's latest performance sedan, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, against America's straight-line stalwart, the Tesla Model S Plaid. What began as a routine drag test quickly turned into a statement: Xiaomi is no longer content to play catch-up in the high-performance EV arena.
The SU7 Ultra showed up with headline figures designed to make competitors nervy: a tri-motor powertrain that claims 1,548 hp (1,569 PS) and 1,305 lb-ft (1,770 Nm) of torque. On paper that makes it one of the most powerful sedans ever built. That output comes with mass — the SU7 weighs roughly 5,203 lb (2,360 kg) — but Xiaomi clearly bet that sheer power and traction management would close the gap.
Specs and price shock
The SU7 Ultra is built around a 93.7 kWh CATL Qilin II ternary NMC battery pack, with a stated full-charge range of about 385 miles (approximately 620 km). Pricing in China starts at ¥529,900, which converts to roughly £55,000 or about $73,700 — dramatically undercutting the UK price of a Model S Plaid.
By contrast, the Tesla Model S Plaid runs a three-motor layout delivering roughly 1,020 hp (1,034 PS) and 1,047 lb-ft (1,420 Nm), while weighing about 4,828 lb (2,190 kg). Its lighter curb weight helps Tesla preserve a stronger power-to-weight ratio in many real-world scenarios. In the UK the Plaid carries a premium, listed around £113,000 (about $151,400), while U.S. pricing is nearer $109,990.
Quarter-mile and rolling tests
On Carwow's strip, the first pass told a familiar story: the Plaid leapt off the line with crisp launches while the SU7 struggled briefly as cold rubber spun. But once the Xiaomi managed traction it became a different animal. Subsequent runs saw the SU7 reel the Plaid in and even pass it in some heats. The final recorded times favored Xiaomi: a 9.3-second quarter-mile for the SU7 Ultra versus 9.5 seconds for the Model S Plaid — a decisive margin in drag racing terms.
Rolling runs emphasized the advantage of the extra horsepower: once both cars were already at speed the SU7's greater output allowed it to pull away, proving that peak power matters when traction is less of a constraint.
What went wrong — and what that means
The SU7 didn't have a perfect outing. Midway through the session engineers noticed the battery management system (BMS) stepping in, effectively trimming power to protect components — a sort of limp or thermal management mode. Test conditions and a less-than-full state of charge limited repeated maximum attacks; the CATL pack has the range on paper, but heat and charge state affect short-run repeatability.
Key highlights:
- Xiaomi SU7 Ultra: 1,548 hp, 1,305 lb-ft torque, 93.7 kWh battery, 5,203 lb curb weight, 9.3s quarter-mile.
- Tesla Model S Plaid: ~1,020 hp, 1,047 lb-ft torque, lighter weight at 4,828 lb, 9.5s quarter-mile.
- Pricing: SU7 undercuts substantially in China; Plaid commands a premium in the UK and US.
More than straight-line bragging rights
Xiaomi's performance claims are bolstered by track work: a related SU7 model recorded a staggeringly quick Nürburgring Nordschleife lap of 7:04.957 earlier in the year. Tesla's Plaid remains credible too, with a 7:25.231 Nürburgring time recorded in 2023 — still impressive for a production sedan. The two cars also demonstrated capable stopping power, both fitted with high-performance ceramic brakes and returning tight braking distances from 99 mph (160 kph).
For buyers and fans this duel raises broader questions about how quickly Chinese EV makers are closing the technology and performance gap. Xiaomi's pricing strategy looks aggressive: supercar-baiting performance at mid–sports-sedan money. But real-world reliability, software maturity, charging infrastructure, and availability remain part of the purchase equation. Notably, Xiaomi does not currently sell the SU7 in the United States.
Bottom line
The SU7 Ultra didn't merely surprise; it proved that Chinese manufacturers can build headline-grabbing electric performance sedans that beat established rivals in specific tests. Tesla's Model S Plaid, however, remains a polished, proven package with global support and refinement. For enthusiasts, the race is just the beginning — the market will decide whether Xiaomi's aggressive specs and pricing translate into sustained momentum beyond show-and-tell drag runs.
Source: autoevolution
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