Xiaomi says GT and Ultra have different meanings inside its EV line-up, which explains why the coming YU7 performance crossover is not being called the YU7 Ultra.
In its official Q&A, Xiaomi Auto defines GT as a high-performance luxury car suited to long-distance travel.
The YU7 GT is positioned as a sports car-level SUV for travel, rather than a track-first flagship in the mould of the SU7 Ultra.
Xiaomi said the Ultra badge is reserved for its peak-performance models, with the SU7 Ultra used as the example because of its Nürburgring work and more extreme brief.
That gives the YU7 GT a slightly different job. It still chases big numbers, but Xiaomi is marketing it as a car that balances performance, comfort and range.
It said the YU7 GT is the flagship of the YU7 family, jointly tuned by Chinese and European specialists, and is due to meet the public at the end of May.
The key figures are already impressive for a family-sized crossover. China’s MIIT filing listed a dual-motor set-up with a 288kW front motor and a 450kW rear motor, giving 738kW in total, or about 990hp. The same filing points to a 300kph top speed, a five-seat layout and a ternary lithium-ion battery.
CarNewsChina now reports that YU7 GT units are already being stockpiled at Xiaomi’s factory ahead of the debut.
The report said leaked online photos show burgundy-coloured cars, which it believes are likely display units prepared for Xiaomi Auto stores across China.
The timing fits the late-May debut, and it suggests Xiaomi wants the YU7 GT visible quickly once the covers come off.
Xiaomi’s performance push now runs beyond China. TienCars previously reported that Xiaomi’s Munich research and design centre, opened in September 2025, is the brand’s first EV research and design centre outside China, with work covering performance projects, electric powertrain technology, intelligent driving and user-focused design.
The German hub is led by Rudolf Dittrich, a former BMW engineer linked to the M4 GT3 race car project, while Claus-Dieter Groll, another BMW veteran, heads vehicle dynamics.
The wider Munich team also brings people with BMW, Porsche, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce and AMG backgrounds into Xiaomi’s orbit.
