As Ferrari prepares to broaden its electric vehicle range, the Italian supercar brand looks to have turned to China’s Xiaomi for inspiration.
In a move that some may have considered inconceivable just a few years ago, a high-performance electric car from China could now be an engineering benchmark for Ferrari.
The Xiaomi SU7, a high-performance electric sedan from smartphone company turned automaker, Xiaomi, has been spotted at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters.
The flagship SU7 Ultra boasts 1138kW from a three-motor powertrain, and is claimed to dash from 0-100km/h in 1.98 seconds.
The SU7 Ultra is also the current Nurburgring production EV lap record holder, having beaten the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT’s previous record, in June 2025.
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Now, a yellow SU7 Ultra has been spied leaving Ferrari’s Maranello factory, suggesting that Ferrari could be looking to Xiaomi for inspiration.
Ferrari’s first all-electric model is slated for release in October 2025, meaning development work on that model is likely to be locked in as it moves towards production.
Recently though, Ferrari pushed back plans for a second electric model. Originally planned for a 2026 release and now set to launch in 2028.
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At this stage, it is unclear if Ferrari is using the SU7 as part of a technical partnership or if the car is being used as a performance and engineering benchmark.
Looking to the first Ferrari electric model, the batteries, electric motor, and associated drivetrain componentry are reportedly all being developed in-house by Ferrari.
If that remains the case going forward, it seems less likely that the Italian supercar brand is entering into a partnership with Xiaomi, and more likely to be attempting to tap into the engineering behind the formidable high-performance powertrain.
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With the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra’s proven performance at the Nurburgring stamping its authority as a genuine electric supercar, and taking down the Porsche Taycan in the process – a vehicle Ferrari has previously used as a benchmark – Ferrari could view the model as the one to beat in the performance arena.
It’s also possible that Ferrari could be using the SU7 as the basis of a cost-saving program. With the SU7 Ultra priced from 529,900 yuan in China ($AU113,200), Ferrari may be looking for affordable engineering options to bring the development costs of the next new model down.
With the delay in Ferrari’s second EV already blamed on slowing demand, a lower cost base could be the key to Ferrari keeping the model alive.
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