Tag Archives: Xiaomi

BMW’s Most Polarizing Designer Is Now Working At A Chinese EV Company

Chris Bangle of BMW fame is now serving to Xiaomi design vehicles, and manufacturing of the Volkswagen ID.2 won’t be absolutely ramped up till 2026.

This is AM Drive, Motor1’s every day take a look at the information you want earlier than you get in your automotive.

Ex-BMW Designer Chris Bangle Helping Xiaomi Draw Its Future Cars

 

In case you’ve got missed the memo, Xiaomi is now a automotive model. Its first automotive is the SU7, a big electrical sedan constructed beneath contract by BAIC. The lead designer was Li Tianyuan, who penned the polarizing BMW iX. The Chinese tech large has now added one other former BMW designer to its payroll, none apart from Chris Bangle.

Xiaomi chairman and co-founder Lei Jun took to X to make the stunning announcement about Bangle’s new position on the firm’s automotive division. Christopher Edward Bangle was appointed chief of BMW design in 1992 after working for Opel and Fiat within the Nineteen Eighties. During his keep in Bavaria till 2009, he penned a large number of fashions, a few of which had the notorious “Bangle Butt.” The E65 7 Series is a chief instance, as is the E63 6 Series Coupe.

Volkswagen ID.2 Mass Production Could Be Pushed Back To 2026

Xiaomi sports activities saloon brings as much as 670bhp and 746-mile vary

Xiaomi has unveiled its first manufacturing automobile, the SU7, as a Porsche Taycan-rivalling electrical saloon that is due on sale globally after a launch in China subsequent 12 months. 

The new saloon debuted 1003 days after the Chinese shopper electronics firm initially introduced its plans to enter the electrical automobile ranks in 2021 with an preliminary funding of RMB10 billion (£1.1 bn) and plans for an additional RMB70bn (£7.8bn) over the following 10 years.

The SU7 is amongst a spread of latest fashions deliberate by Xiaomi, which has set itself lofty objectives.

At its unveiling in Shanghai on Thursday, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun mentioned the corporate is searching for to grow to be one of many world’s prime 5 automobile makers throughout the subsequent 15 to twenty years.

“Xiaomi will rival Porsche and Tesla, and create a dream car for the new era of the automotive industry,” he mentioned.

Further Xiaomi fashions will embody an SUV, in response to plans already revealed by the Beijing-based firm.

The foundation for Xiaomi’s first manufacturing mannequin is a brand new electrical automobile platform that goes beneath the interior title Modena. It has been conceived to assist each 400-volt and 800-volt electrical architectures, in addition to single- and dual-motor drivetrains.  

The styling of the SU7 was developed in-house beneath the management of Xiaomi’s head of design, Sawyer Li. The Chinese designer has contributed to a variety of current new vehicles, together with the BMW iX and Circular Vision Concept throughout a five-year stint on the German automobile maker.

At 4997mm in size, 1963mm in width and 1440mm in top, the brand new saloon is 34mm longer, 3mm narrower and 44mm larger than the Porsche Taycan, and has a wheelbase 100mm longer than its German rival at 3000mm.

The smooth traces contribute to a claimed drag co-efficient of simply 0.195. This makes it one of the vital aerodynamically environment friendly manufacturing vehicles but, beating the 0.199 claimed by Geely for the brand new Galaxy E5 and roughly matching GAC’s Hyper GT.

“`html Xiaomi SU7 saloon revealed in Chinese government filings

Details of the first car to come from consumer-electronics giant Xiaomi have been uncovered in Chinese government filings.

The saloon, named the Xiaomi SU7, is set to enter production in the first half of 2024 as a competitor to the BMW i4.

It will be manufactured under a contract by established automaker BAIC, as reported by Car News China.

Measuring 4997mm in length, 1963mm in width, and 1440mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3000mm, the SU7 weighs 2205kg in its heaviest configuration.

Two powertrains will be offered: a rear-wheel-drive version delivering 295bhp and a top speed of 130mph, and a dual-motor, four-wheel-drive option with a Porsche Taycan-rivalling 663bhp and a top speed of 164mph.

Xiaomi will offer the SU7 with two battery options: a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery from BYD on base models and a larger CATL pack as a higher-cost alternative.

Battery capacities and ranges are yet to be confirmed.

Higher-specification cars can also be equipped with an active rear wing and lidar technology.

The SU7 will also be available with a choice of 19in and 20in wheels, compatible with 245/45 R19 and 245/40 R20 tires.

Xaoimi disclosed plans to commence production of its EV earlier this year.

During China’s annual parliamentary gathering in Beijing, CEO Lei Jun announced: “Xiaomi’s car manufacturing has progressed beyond expectation and [prototypes] have recently successfully completed winter testing.”

Lei, who is also a deputy of China’s National People’s Congress, confirmed Xiaomi had invested more than ¥3 billion (£360 million) in its EV division, Xiaomi Automobile, in 2022.

He also noted that staffing of its research-and-development department had increased to more than 2300 individuals.

“`