Xiaomi's YU7 SUV is a Ferrari Purosangue Copy With McLaren Headlamps
By Somnath Chatterjee - News
Published: 26 May 2025
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Readtime: 4 min
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Xiaomi YU7 is the Chinese carmaker's first SUV and is for the Chinese market only
Three configurations, including a dual-motor version capable of hitting 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds
Expected to cost more than the Tesla Model Y in China
The Xiaomi SU7 electric sedan grabbed its fair share of the limelight when it launched in March 2024, but things have become more interesting with the debut of its first crossover called YU7. It's the SUV version of the SU7, and it seems to be a curious blend of a Ferrari Purosangue design flanked by McLaren 750s' 'eye socket' headlamps. This is a high-performance SUV that would certainly hang with those supercars in a sprint from 0-100km/h (3.2 seconds), but the shark nose does look ungainly when juxtaposed against a swoopy crossover body.
Still, we have to remember that the shape is inspired by aerodynamics for electric efficiency and range, including the headlamps, which channel air from the bonnet. In fact, there's no less than '19 optimised vents,' which seems a little over the top.
Prices for the YU7 will be revealed in July, but CEO Lei Jun has already squashed rumours of the car costing around 200,000 yuan (approx. USD$27,800), hinting that it will likely have a more premium positioning over its main competitors in the Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7. Xiaomi's focus for this vehicle will be the Chinese market, but it has hinted that it will enter global markets in a few years' time, if there's enough demand.
Xiaomi YU7 | Image: Supplied / Xiaomi
Ferrari Purosangue | Image: Supplied / Ferrari
We struggle to imagine a situation where the Xiaomi YU7 doesn't find a letter from the bosses at Ferrari, and this might have something to do with its China-only positioning in the market. The rear three-quarter view is where the similarity to the V12-powered Ferrari Purosangue is even more evident. Like the Ferrari, it falls just under 5 meters in length and has a long wheelbase spanning about 3 metres—both more than the Tesla Model Y.
Other design highlights include a long clamshell hood, auto flush door handles, 275 mm rear wide tires and an active grille shutter for aerodynamics. Three colours will be available at launch in China, including Emerald Green, Titanium Silver, and Lava Orange.
Xiaomi YU7 | Image: Supplied / Xiaomi
Xiaomi YU7 | Image: Supplied / Xiaomi
Xiaomi YU7 | Image: Supplied / Xiaomi
Xiaomi YU7 | Image: Supplied / Xiaomi
Compared to the visual drama of the exterior, the interior is minimalistic and comes with a thin panoramic display at the top of the dashboard and a 16.1-inch infotainment touchscreen. While the focus has been on performance, the YU7 does come with all the usual luxury features like zero gravity seats doused in Nappa leather with massage and recline. The rear seats can also be reclined to 135 degrees while there are dedicated climate control functions here too. Speaking in terms of practicality, the 678-litre boot capacity can be further expanded to 1,758 litres, and there's 141 litres of storage in the trunk.
Power-wise, the flagship 'Max' version of the Xiaomi YU7 has a dual-motor configuration good for 681HP and 866Nm of torque. The acceleration from 0-100 km/h is a supercar rivalling 3.2 seconds, and this variant is also the only one to get the larger 101.7 kWh battery pack with a claimed range of 770km (CLTC).
Xiaomi YU7 | Image: Supplied / Xiaomi
If this is too powerful, then buyers in China can look at the 'Pro' variant with 489HP and 690Nm of torque. Here, the range marginally drops to 760km due to the smaller 96.3 kWh battery pack. The variant with the highest range, though, is the single motor version with 835km per charge, and power is around 316HP, which is sufficient.
800V architecture means that the YU7 can charge its battery up to 80 per cent in just 12 minutes, which makes it one of the fastest charging EVs on the market, and 600km of range can be added in only 15 minutes.
This is a Chinese market-only vehicle (for now), and prices will be revealed in July 2025. In terms of pricing, CEO Lei Jun has said that it will cost more than the rumoured 200,000 yuan (USD$27,800), hinting that it could be having a more premium positioning over the Tesla Model Y, which is priced from 263,500 yuan (USD$36,351). Besides the uncanny resemblance to the Ferrari SUV, the YU7 carries on the same product attributes of its sedan sibling while undoubtedly giving a lot of bang for the buck.
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7NEWS
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Leapmotor tweaks driver assist systems for Australian models after customer feedback
Leapmotor Australia says it will continue to work on improving the advanced driver assist systems for Australian models after complaints from both media and customers. The Leapmotor C10 electric SUV – a rival to the Tesla Model Y – spearheaded the brand's Australian launch in November 2024, but initial customer feedback saw complaints surrounding the intrusiveness of its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). While the suite of safety tech helped the C10 achieve a five-star rating from safety authority ANCAP, CarExpert's first drive of the C10 reported serious drawbacks with the systems. The C10's "incessant, overbearing safety chimes" meant they lost their effectiveness, lost in a sound cloud of distraction and interruptions. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Speaking at the media briefing on the C10 REEV – the range-extender hybrid version of its C10 SUV – Leapmotor Australia boss Andy Hoang and product lead Rick Crichton said changes have been made but are ongoing. "[Rick] monitors the owner channel pretty closely, and I myself have a lot of dialog with some of our early, early owners, from that point of view," Mr Hoang told media, including CarExpert. "We've been constantly optimising the vehicle in terms of the software. Certainly, the feedback from very, very early on about the sensitivity of the ADAS has been one of the things that we continually work on." The automaker previously told CarExpert it was looking into the issues in order to "improve the customer experience" – which has seen changes which now enable customers to turn off features. "We introduced the quick down menu to help switch off some of those items for customers at ease and certainly … [we'll work] continually to better match them to the conditions in Australia," Mr Hoang said. The improvements have been introduced with over-the-air (OTA) software updates, with the last for Australian vehicles carried out in February and the next due in August 2025. "Over the last three updates, I think we've been able to get us to a much, much better place. We continue working at it …another update that's coming that will again really address some of the feedback that we've had from customers," Mr Hoang said. "Customers are not backwards in suggesting to us the things they would like to see on the car, and those are the things that we're trying to feed into the plan for the future." All C10s come standard with a suite of safety technology that includes: MORE: Everything Leapmotor C10 Content originally sourced from: Leapmotor Australia says it will continue to work on improving the advanced driver assist systems for Australian models after complaints from both media and customers. The Leapmotor C10 electric SUV – a rival to the Tesla Model Y – spearheaded the brand's Australian launch in November 2024, but initial customer feedback saw complaints surrounding the intrusiveness of its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). While the suite of safety tech helped the C10 achieve a five-star rating from safety authority ANCAP, CarExpert's first drive of the C10 reported serious drawbacks with the systems. The C10's "incessant, overbearing safety chimes" meant they lost their effectiveness, lost in a sound cloud of distraction and interruptions. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Speaking at the media briefing on the C10 REEV – the range-extender hybrid version of its C10 SUV – Leapmotor Australia boss Andy Hoang and product lead Rick Crichton said changes have been made but are ongoing. "[Rick] monitors the owner channel pretty closely, and I myself have a lot of dialog with some of our early, early owners, from that point of view," Mr Hoang told media, including CarExpert. "We've been constantly optimising the vehicle in terms of the software. Certainly, the feedback from very, very early on about the sensitivity of the ADAS has been one of the things that we continually work on." The automaker previously told CarExpert it was looking into the issues in order to "improve the customer experience" – which has seen changes which now enable customers to turn off features. "We introduced the quick down menu to help switch off some of those items for customers at ease and certainly … [we'll work] continually to better match them to the conditions in Australia," Mr Hoang said. The improvements have been introduced with over-the-air (OTA) software updates, with the last for Australian vehicles carried out in February and the next due in August 2025. "Over the last three updates, I think we've been able to get us to a much, much better place. We continue working at it …another update that's coming that will again really address some of the feedback that we've had from customers," Mr Hoang said. "Customers are not backwards in suggesting to us the things they would like to see on the car, and those are the things that we're trying to feed into the plan for the future." All C10s come standard with a suite of safety technology that includes: MORE: Everything Leapmotor C10 Content originally sourced from: Leapmotor Australia says it will continue to work on improving the advanced driver assist systems for Australian models after complaints from both media and customers. The Leapmotor C10 electric SUV – a rival to the Tesla Model Y – spearheaded the brand's Australian launch in November 2024, but initial customer feedback saw complaints surrounding the intrusiveness of its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). While the suite of safety tech helped the C10 achieve a five-star rating from safety authority ANCAP, CarExpert's first drive of the C10 reported serious drawbacks with the systems. The C10's "incessant, overbearing safety chimes" meant they lost their effectiveness, lost in a sound cloud of distraction and interruptions. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Speaking at the media briefing on the C10 REEV – the range-extender hybrid version of its C10 SUV – Leapmotor Australia boss Andy Hoang and product lead Rick Crichton said changes have been made but are ongoing. "[Rick] monitors the owner channel pretty closely, and I myself have a lot of dialog with some of our early, early owners, from that point of view," Mr Hoang told media, including CarExpert. "We've been constantly optimising the vehicle in terms of the software. Certainly, the feedback from very, very early on about the sensitivity of the ADAS has been one of the things that we continually work on." The automaker previously told CarExpert it was looking into the issues in order to "improve the customer experience" – which has seen changes which now enable customers to turn off features. "We introduced the quick down menu to help switch off some of those items for customers at ease and certainly … [we'll work] continually to better match them to the conditions in Australia," Mr Hoang said. The improvements have been introduced with over-the-air (OTA) software updates, with the last for Australian vehicles carried out in February and the next due in August 2025. "Over the last three updates, I think we've been able to get us to a much, much better place. We continue working at it …another update that's coming that will again really address some of the feedback that we've had from customers," Mr Hoang said. "Customers are not backwards in suggesting to us the things they would like to see on the car, and those are the things that we're trying to feed into the plan for the future." All C10s come standard with a suite of safety technology that includes: MORE: Everything Leapmotor C10 Content originally sourced from: Leapmotor Australia says it will continue to work on improving the advanced driver assist systems for Australian models after complaints from both media and customers. The Leapmotor C10 electric SUV – a rival to the Tesla Model Y – spearheaded the brand's Australian launch in November 2024, but initial customer feedback saw complaints surrounding the intrusiveness of its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). While the suite of safety tech helped the C10 achieve a five-star rating from safety authority ANCAP, CarExpert's first drive of the C10 reported serious drawbacks with the systems. The C10's "incessant, overbearing safety chimes" meant they lost their effectiveness, lost in a sound cloud of distraction and interruptions. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Speaking at the media briefing on the C10 REEV – the range-extender hybrid version of its C10 SUV – Leapmotor Australia boss Andy Hoang and product lead Rick Crichton said changes have been made but are ongoing. "[Rick] monitors the owner channel pretty closely, and I myself have a lot of dialog with some of our early, early owners, from that point of view," Mr Hoang told media, including CarExpert. "We've been constantly optimising the vehicle in terms of the software. Certainly, the feedback from very, very early on about the sensitivity of the ADAS has been one of the things that we continually work on." The automaker previously told CarExpert it was looking into the issues in order to "improve the customer experience" – which has seen changes which now enable customers to turn off features. "We introduced the quick down menu to help switch off some of those items for customers at ease and certainly … [we'll work] continually to better match them to the conditions in Australia," Mr Hoang said. The improvements have been introduced with over-the-air (OTA) software updates, with the last for Australian vehicles carried out in February and the next due in August 2025. "Over the last three updates, I think we've been able to get us to a much, much better place. We continue working at it …another update that's coming that will again really address some of the feedback that we've had from customers," Mr Hoang said. "Customers are not backwards in suggesting to us the things they would like to see on the car, and those are the things that we're trying to feed into the plan for the future." All C10s come standard with a suite of safety technology that includes: MORE: Everything Leapmotor C10 Content originally sourced from:
Perth Now
4 hours ago
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We took the opportunity to get a sneak preview of the Jaecoo J8 in Dubai, where the vehicle is shortly due on sale. 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert Given that Jaecoo is an offshoot is Chery, it's no surprise the J8 leverages existing hardware – it's essentially a rebadged Chery Tiggo 9. As such, the Jaecoo rides on the Chinese carmaker's T1X monocoque chassis and features CDC suspension comprising electronically controlled adaptive dampers that react within milliseconds to information about the road surface relayed by sensors and cameras. The J8 is conventionally sized for a seven-seat SUV, measuring in at 4820mm long, 1930mm wide and 1710mm tall. By comparison, the Santa Fe is 4830mm long, 1900mm wide and 1720mm tall. The Jaecoo has a 2820mm wheelbase, while the Hyundai's wheelbase spans 2815mm. Despite its largish dimensions, the J8 is by no means excessively lardy as the FWD base model tips the scales at a relatively lithe 1764kg, while the fully loaded AWD Flagship weighs 1892kg. 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert The job of propelling this mass is shouldered by Chery's 'Kunpeng Power' 2.0-litre TDGi turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which pumps out 195kW and 400Nm. Hooked up to the turbo motor is a smooth-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. On paper, a four-pot engine might seem a bit weedy for a full-size SUV, but performance is decently sprightly and the transmission is relatively seamless – more on this later. Exact pricing for the UAE is yet to be nailed down, but a company spokesman suggested the entry-level, front-wheel-drive Comfort model will cost around AED125,000 (A$53,420), while the range-topping Flagship all-wheel drive variant that we tested will be pegged around AED155,000 (A$66,240). 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert If similar pricing were to be reflected in Australia, it would put the Jaecoo in a competitive price bracket against its logical rivals. Arguably, the Jaecoo J8's most appealing facet is its plush Nappa leather-lined cabin, but we should of course point out that we tested the fully loaded Flagship variant. 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert Jaecoo's interior designers have borrowed liberally from the Mercedes-Benz design manual, and that's no bad thing. If you've sat in a recent Benz, you'll find familiarity in the expansive horizontal display panel that houses both the digitised instrument cluster and the infotainment touchscreen. Also distinctly Mercedes-esque – in both style and function – are the column-mounted transmission shifter, door-panel-mounted seat adjustment knobs and squared-off rotary vent outlets. The level of fit and finish is exemplary and there's good use of contrasting colours and materials. Our test car featured beige Nappa leather upholstery and faux brushed aluminium trim on the dashboard, door panels and centre console, with some piano black inserts thrown in for good measure. There are a few hard plastic bits (including the faux aluminium trim), but these don't overly detract from a cabin that otherwise has a genuinely premium ambience. Consequently, the J8 could even make sense for buyers who might fancy a Merc or BMW but can't quite make the stretch financially. 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert There's not much to fault in terms of ergonomics either, as all-around visibility is generally good, while the seats are superbly comfortable – this goes particularly for the captain's chairs in the second row with their ample adjustability and massage functions. That said, access to the small third-row seats (suitable only for children) is cumbersome, as the occupants of said pews need to clamber up and then navigate through the narrow gap between the two second-row chairs to access the rear. However, opting for the seven-seat version (which has a bench in the middle row) should make life easier for third-row dwellers as the second-row seats in this variant can be tilted forward for simpler access to the back. Another minor annoyance is the lack of physical buttons for the HVAC settings, but at least there's a permanent tab on the bottom of the infotainment screen with fan and temperature settings – so you don't need to scroll through additional screens just to turn the fan up or down or notch, or to make the cabin warmer or cooler by a degree or two. 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert There are a sufficient number of storage cubbyholes in the cabin. Tucked under the floating centre console is a little shelf for keys and loose change, while a large lidded bin is housed behind the centre console. The door pockets, too, are generously sized. However, luggage space in the seven-seat version is a paltry 200 litres with the rear pews in place. The five-seat version offers a more usable 717 litres, which can be expanded to 2021 litres by folding down the rear bench. The Jaecoo J8 is currently offered in the UAE with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that produces 195kW of power and 400Nm of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels only, or through an all-wheel drive system, depending on the variant. 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain is offered in other markets. It includes a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors to produce total system outputs of 450kW and 915Nm – which is quite a lot of grunt. If one were to sum up in very simple terms what the Jaecoo J8 is like to drive, it would be pleasant but unspectacular. 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert On the plus side, the J8 feels a bit sprightlier than we'd expected, given that its propulsion comes from a 2.0-litre engine, which seems a small displacement for a vehicle that's this large. Jaecoo quotes a 9.0-second 0-100km/h sprint for the AWD J8 (the FWD model is 0.2s quicker) and, while this figure doesn't sound particularly impressive, there's never a perception of sluggishness or lacklustre performance. Rolling acceleration is also adequately sprightly, as the seven-speed dual-clutch auto is quick to kick down when you stab the throttle. This means overtaking slow-moving cars on single-lane country roads is never a problem. The engine and dual-clutch transmission team up to deliver seamless performance, and refinement levels aren't compromised by excessive noise or coarseness, even if you work the 2.0-litre motor hard. 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert Ride quality and overall noise levels are also impressive, so the J8 stands up as a credible alternative to the Euro SUV brigade if you're a value-conscious buyer, or simply don't have the budget for the latter. Minor irritations when mooching around town include a brake pedal that tends to be grabby in stop-start traffic. In addition, you'll find during back-and-forth parking manoeuvres the steering-column-mounted transmission lever needs a resolute nudge with the brake pedal firmly depressed, otherwise 'D' or 'R' won't engage – a casual flick of the stalk won't do it. Dynamically, the J8 is a middle-of-the-road offering as its agility and cornering behaviour are neither class-leading nor mediocre. Then again, most prospective buyers won't care too much as the Jaecoo isn't positioned as a sporting SUV by any stretch. As for off-road ability, the J8 has no less than seven drive modes (including dedicated modes for sand, mud and snow), and its torque-vectoring AWD system is supplied by GKN, which also provides Land Rover with similar tech. With two multi-plate clutches at the rear axle, each wheel can be driven independently. 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert Even so, the fact the J8 Flagship is equipped with road-biased 50-series Michelin Primacy tyres on 20-inch rims is a clue to its orientation as more urban warrior than an outback tamer. Approach and departure angles of 20 degrees and 17 degrees respectively are nothing to write home about in any case. It hardly matters though, as the typical usage patterns of prospective owners will likely include the daily schlep to and from office, the school run and – possibly – the odd excursion for camping, mountain biking and the like, which will entail nothing more than light-duty off-road use, and for all of this the J8 will happily oblige. Among the Jaecoo J8's USPs is a generous quota of mod-cons and safety features, so the vehicle potentially represents strong value for money vis-à-vis its competitors. Of course, we're yet to see how the J8 will be specced and priced in the Australian market. 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert 2025 Jaecoo J8 equipment highlights: 19-inch alloy wheels Auto LED headlights Auto high beam Power tailgate Panoramic sunroof Dual-zone climate control Leather seats Leather multifunction steering wheel 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat Driver seat position memory Heated and ventilated front seats Multicolour ambient lighting 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system Wireless charger Dashcam driving recorder 2 x 12V power outlets 4 x USB ports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto 12-speaker Sony sound system 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert Flagship AWD adds: 20-inch alloy wheels 6-seat layout with captain's chairs in second row Nappa leather upholstery 4-way electric adjustment of second-row seats Ventilated second-row seats incl. massage function Black suede headliner Rear console with cupholders Metal pedals Head-up display with augmented reality 14-speaker Sony sound system No independent crash test results are available for the J8 yet, but one could infer from the five-star ANCAP scores earned by its Chery Tiggo 7 Pro and Omoda 5 stablemates that the Jaecoo is likely to fare well in terms of safety ratings. 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert Standard safety equipment in the UAE includes: Dual front, side and curtain airbags 540-degree surround-view camera Autonomous emergency braking Adaptive cruise control Front collision warning Lane departure prevention Traffic jam avoidance assistant Front and rear radars Leading vehicle departure alert Intelligent avoidance Flagship adds: Emergency lane-keep assist Blind-spot detection Lane change assist Driver monitoring system Rear collision warning Reversing lateral emergency braking Door open warning Automatic parking assist In the UAE, Jaecoo vehicles are backed by a seven-year/250,000km warranty, but we'd expect Chery Australia's seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty to apply here too. That said, we'll wait for official confirmation closer to the brand's local launch. All told, the Jaecoo J8 is a polished and well-rounded offering that should be able to hold its own against established players in the seven-seat SUV segment. 2025 Jaecoo J8: Quick drive Credit: CarExpert Solid although unspectacular in its driving characteristics, the J8's fortes lie in its premium cabin ambience (for its price) and overall refinement. We'll deliver a more emphatic verdict once Australian pricing and specs are known. MORE: Everything Jaecoo J8 Impressive premium feel, well equipped Clean, albeit slightly generic styling Strong and refined performer Not hugely exciting to drive; grabby brake pedal Fiddly column shifter requires a firm nudge Odd placement of hazard light switch
