Despite its 663 horsepower, the Xiaomi SU7 has smaller brake discs than a Honda CR-V. Cracked brakes already lead to more accidents.
The new electric car from Xiaomi, SU7, is once again heavily criticized. This time for having grossly undersized brakes.
According to several media outlets, the excessively small disks have already led to several accidents. Videos show how the cars cannot brake sufficiently on race tracks. They therefore end up directly in the barrier.
Investigations have revealed that despite its 663 horsepower, the SU is equipped with smaller brakes than those on a Honda CR-V. A car that never had more than 160 horsepower.
In comparison, the competitor Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, whose lap record the Chinese claim to have beaten at the Nürburgring, has significantly larger brakes.
Two videos document violent accidents where brake failure has led to accidents with SU7 models.
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In one video, a Chinese influencer, Tang Zhu, loses control of his SU7 at the Shanghai Tianma race track and crashes into the barrier. After just five laps on the track, the brakes were overheated and the pads themselves were worn.
Another influencer experienced a similar problem where the car could not brake. Here, too, the trip ended in the barrier. In that case, the car's airbags did not work correctly either.
Xiaomi acknowledges the problem and advises against using the SU7 on racetracks.
– We strongly remind you that the Xiaomi SU7 Max is a high-performance luxury car for the street. Please do not try to take the car out on racetracks, reads a statement from the company that Autopian brings.
The SU7 uses NAO ("Non-Asbestos Organic") brake pads, which are quieter and more environmentally friendly. But the bricks work worse at high temperatures. It is worth noting that Xiaomi used different brake pads and discs on the model of the SU7 that set the electric car record at the Nürburgring.
