Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Unleashed: 1,548 HP, Angry Owners, and a Software U-Turn
By Team Dailyrevs May 5, 2025
Software Wars Have Entered the Horsepower Chat: Xiaomi’s move shows how OTA updates can redefine performance post-sale—and how quickly owners push back.
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This Is No Start-Up Stunt: At under $75K, the SU7 Ultra offers hypercar performance at a quarter of the price, and it’s backed by serious hardware: triple motors, carbon ceramic brakes, and Nürburgring-tested DNA.
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Control Is the New Battleground: The SU7 Ultra’s OTA controversy signals a shift—where ownership isn't just about buying the car, but defending how it behaves, updates, and performs over time.
For a brand making its EV debut, Xiaomi isn’t exactly easing into the industry. The SU7 Ultra—a carbon-fiber-wrapped electric super sedan with 1,548 horsepower and Nürburgring ambitions—has already stirred a proper hornet’s nest. Not over the usual range anxiety or charge times, but something far more 2025: a software update that quietly nerfed the car’s peak performance, followed by swift public backlash, and then a rollback. Yes, a rollback for horsepower.
In a world where vehicles are becoming software-defined machines on wheels, Xiaomi just learned a very public lesson: don’t poke the enthusiast bear.
Performance Promise vs. OTA Reality
Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra made waves by promising numbers that would make a Rimac blink. Triple-motor setup. 0–100 km/h in under 2 seconds. Nürburgring time of 6:46.874. But shortly after deliveries began, some owners noticed their hyper-sedan wasn’t quite living up to the spec sheet.
An over-the-air (OTA) software update, bundled into HyperOS 1.7.0, quietly reduced the available power to around 900 hp in standard driving conditions. The justification? Safety, cooling, battery preservation—you name it. Xiaomi claimed it was a precautionary adjustment, but enthusiasts didn’t buy it.
Forums exploded. Social media caught fire. And within days, Xiaomi pulled a full 180.
2025 Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Image Gallery
Table: Xiaomi SU7 Ultra – Key Highlights
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Powertrain | Triple-motor AWD with HyperEngine V8s (rear) and V6s (front) |
| Total Output | 1,548 horsepower (post-rollback) |
| 0–100 km/h | 1.98 seconds (Launch Control Active) |
| Battery | CATL Qilin 2.0 (800V architecture) |
| Track Tech | Drag Race Mode, Launch Control, Carbon Ceramic Brakes |
| Interior | Alcantara, FIA-spec Roll Cage (optional package) |
| OTA Incident | HyperOS 1.7.0 limited power; rollback followed user backlash |
| Lap Time (Nürburgring) | 6:46.874 |
What This Means for Xiaomi—and Everyone Else
Xiaomi didn’t just release a fast EV. It released a software-governed super sedan, with powertrain performance now effectively toggled by the cloud. This places the company squarely in the Tesla-esque debate over who controls the car: the buyer or the brand?
While Xiaomi walked back the update, it raised broader questions:
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Can manufacturers quietly reduce vehicle performance without consent?
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Should "Track Mode" capabilities be permanently available if advertised?
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Where does consumer expectation end and liability management begin?
These are questions not just for Xiaomi, but for the entire EV industry as it pivots toward upgradable, modular software ecosystems.
Final Thoughts
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra isn’t just about numbers—it’s a case study in the EV era’s new friction: between engineering potential and software-defined limits. Xiaomi blinked first, handing back horsepower to appease a passionate customer base. But the bigger story is just beginning. As cars become rolling computers, the power struggle—both literal and metaphorical—isn’t under the hood anymore. It’s in the code.