Images of a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra driving out of Ferrari’s headquarters have surfaced online, sparking speculation about Ferrari’s progress on its upcoming electric vehicle. Captured by Weibo user Sago in Bologna, the photos suggest that Ferrari may be using the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra for benchmarking purposes, ahead of the debut of its first series-production electric vehicle (EV).
According to Sago, as reported by CarNewsChina, the blogger said, “The SU7 Ultra was definitely coming from inside Ferrari’s facility. After verification, we learned this specific vehicle was officially purchased by Ferrari for testing and development of their next-generation electric platform.”
Another blogger, Zurich Beileye, claimed that Ferrari representatives visited Xiaomi’s headquarters last year to discuss the possible joint development of next-generation high-performance electric motors. While there has been no official confirmation of a collaboration between the two brands, Ferrari’s acquisition of a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra suggests Maranello’s growing interest in Chinese EV technology.
Ferrari is set to launch their very first EV this year on October 9th. This revolutionary car – for Ferrari, at least – is going to be an exclusive, low-production model that is said to start from EUR500,000 (approx. RM2.3 million).
Though exciting, plans for its second EV, a series-production model, are currently facing strong headwinds due to “zero demand”. Initially planned to launch by 2026, the second EV model has now been pushed back to at least 2028.
READ MORE: Ferrari reportedly delays second EV model due to “zero” demand
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, meanwhile, is now the world’s fastest four-door production EV around the Nürburgring, beating the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with the Weissach package by 2.59 seconds.
Xiaomi has also since become a premium partner of the Nürburgring — joining the Nürburgring’s test and development drives, commonly known as the Industry Pool. With a 1,548 hp tri-motor setup and a 0-100 km/h time of just 1.98 seconds, it’s no surprise that Ferrari has chosen the SU7 Ultra as a benchmark for its upcoming series-production EV.
RELATED: Xiaomi SU7 Ultra is now officially the fastest 4-door production car to lap the Nurburgring
