Xiaomi has now u-turned on the update that required owners to prove their skills on an approved racetrack or their 1,526 hp EVs power would be restricted to 888 hp
May 6, 2025 at 05:19
- Xiaomi has backtracked on a software update that restricted the 1,548 hp SU7 Ultra to 888 hp.
- Owners previously had to set a qualifying time on a track to unlock the EV’s true performance.
- Xiaomi also scrapped the 60-second wait time for launch control to activate on the Taycan rival.
Have you ever upgraded your phone or computer to the latest operating system and instantly regretted the decision, wishing you could just go back to the earlier version? That’s a scenario familiar to Chinese owners of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra who discovered an update cost them around 650 hp.
The Ultra is the halo car in Xiaomi’s phenomenally successful SU7 lineup, a rival to the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT that costs a quarter as much and has laid waste to the German car at various racetracks thanks to its incredible 1,526 hp (1,548 PS / 1,138 kW) triple-motor drivetrain.
Related: First Fatal Xiaomi SU7 Crash Sparks Questions About Self-Driving Tech And Locked Doors
But owners were furious to learn that version 1.7.0 of its software reduced power to around 888 hp (900 PS / 662 kW) unless they could prove they were worthy of the true maximum. To unlock it, drivers had to complete a qualifying lap time on a Xiaomi-approved track that would be logged and verified by the SU7’s onboard Qualifying Mode laptime assessment feature, Car News China reports.
The update also made drivers wait an agonizing 60 seconds before the launch control function was ready to showcase the Ultra’s possible 1.89-second zero to 62 mph (96 km/h) times, ruling the tech out for impromptu stoplight races.
Xiaomi claimed the version 1.7.0 update’s power restrictions were designed with safety in mind, claiming the maximum performance potential was only created with track use in mind and by drivers who could handle all those Watts. But while some owners appreciated the sentiment, many took to online forums to complain that they now owned EVs with far less performance than they’d paid for, and which Xiaomi had advertised.
Following the backlash, Xiaomi pulled a U-turn, scrapping the performance limitations and promising to be more up-front about future software updates.
“We appreciate the passionate feedback from our community and will ensure better transparency moving forward,” Car News China reports a company representative saying.
Do you think Xiaomi was right to demand drivers prove their skills before being allowed the SU7’s full power?
