Xiaomi Tests YU9's New SUV In Xinjiang, Ready To Be The Largest Model On Its Product Line

Testing of the third electric car from Xiaomi. (Photo: Carnewschina)

JAKARTA After reaping great success through Xiaomi SU7 and YU7 in the Chinese automotive market, the technology giant from Beijing doesn't seem to want to stop there. Xiaomi is now preparing to expand its electric vehicle line with a new model that is undergoing extreme road tests in the mountainous region of Xinjiang, China.

Reporting from CarNewsChina, Monday, October 13, the new Xiaomi car was caught on camera being tested at a severe geographic condition, showing the company's seriousness in strengthening its position in the electric vehicle market.

Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun also went directly to monitor the trial process. In his upload on Weibo, he confirmed his presence in Tashkurgan, Xinjiang, to conduct vehicle testing at extreme altitudes. A number of other Xiaomi officials, including senior automotive adviser Hu Zhengnan, vice president Zhang Jianhui, and general manager Yu Kai's automotive product department, also participated in the test, signaled a sizeable test scale.

Lei Jun shared the moment the Xiaomi testing team beat the Ancient Panlong Road, a 30-km legendary track with more than 600 sharp corners at an altitude of 3,500 meters. He called the terrain a real challenge for vehicles and drivers.

Trials were also carried out at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains in the Pamir Plateau, which has a height of more than 4,000 meters. In extreme weather conditions and high ultraviolet light exposure, more than 20 Xiaomi engineers focused on testing the durability of the hybrid system, charging performance, and resistance to UV radiation.

The new model, which is believed to carry the name Xiaomi YU9, is said to be using a hybrid powertrain with extended range (EREV). According to preliminary reports, this segment-D SUV is likely to carry an 80 kWh battery capable of traveling more than 400 km in pure electric mode, while the total overall distance is still kept secret.

With a length of about 5.2 meters and a height of 1.8 meters, YU9 will be the largest SUV in Xiaomi's lineup. The interior leak shows a different design than the previous model, possibly without a typical double screen SU7 and YU7. In addition, YU9 is expected to be present in several variants, both using both LiDAR and without sensors, to support Xiaomi's latest generation Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) system.