Xiaomi (小米) unveils new-generation SU7 — rivals seen reacting, and a '1‑kg' laptop reportedly returns after four years

Flagship EV gets a full reset

Xiaomi (小米) tonight premiered the new-generation SU7, a sweeping refresh of its flagship sedan that aims squarely at the luxury-electric segment. The car brings extensive upgrades in design, materials and features — redesigned grille with embedded 4D millimeter‑wave radar, new 21‑inch forged wheels, a reworked interior with Nappa leather and three‑layer ambient lighting, and a host of comfort touches from an upgraded in‑car fridge to 25‑speaker Dolby Atmos sound on the Max trim. Reportedly some rival executives in the audience reacted visibly to the reveal. Can Xiaomi turn heads in a crowded Chinese EV market? The company clearly wants to.

Power, range and "smart" ambition

Xiaomi positioned the SU7 as both faster and smarter: a new V6s Plus motor and a carbon‑silicon high‑voltage platform push Max‑trim 0–100km/h to 3.08s and offer CLTC ranges of up to 902km (Pro). Charging claims are aggressive — Max can charge at up to 5.2C for a 15‑minute add of 670km — while an Nvidia Thor flagship chip plus a 700 TOPS assistant driving processor underpin the upgraded Xiaomi HAD driving stack and the XLA cognition model. The car also includes lidar, 4D radar and a four‑in‑one domain controller architecture, signalling Xiaomi’s push to vertically integrate software, AI and hardware in a sector increasingly affected by chip supply and export politics.

Safety, pricing and ordering

Xiaomi emphasised safety upgrades — nine airbags including rear side airbags, 2200MPa hot‑formed steel reinforcements, a 17‑layer high‑voltage battery insulation system and other protections — and added three‑fold redundant door‑handle systems to meet forthcoming national standards. Across the lineup Xiaomi raised prices by RMB 4,000, with orders opening tonight (RMB 5,000 deposit) and limited configuration windows and upgrade paths announced for early buyers.

Devices and the wider context

The event also showcased new hardware beyond cars: the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 14 (小米笔记本 Pro 14) and the Xiaomi Watch S5 (小米手表 S5) appeared on stage, and it has been reported that a “1‑kg” laptop — billed as the first such weight in four years for the brand — was introduced. Why does this matter beyond specs? In a period of heightened US‑China tech tensions and tighter export controls on advanced semiconductors, Xiaomi’s reliance on high‑performance chips and its emphasis on in‑house software stacks highlight how Chinese consumer‑tech champions are racing to secure both supply and differentiation across phones, PCs and electric vehicles.