What's up with the brakes? Accidents on the track showed the weaknesses of Xiaomi SU7 Max

On paper, the Xiaomi SU7 Max is a sports car: 663 hp (495 kW), 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 2.8 seconds, 497 kilometres of range. But all this is useless if the brakes don't do their job, especially on the racetrack. In recent months, two high-profile accidents have proved this.

The first accident: a test run ended with a bang

In April, a Chinese Influencer crashed an SU7 Max during a test run at the Shanghai Tianma circuit. The video shows the car trying to fit into a corner, but the brakes are not enough and the car flies into a barrier. The driver noted that before the accident he had done five hot laps, after which the brake pads already looked very worn out.

Second accident: and again the same problems

In June, another SU7-powered Influencer experienced a similar brake problem while driving on the track. The car failed to enter a corner and crashed into a wall. At the same time, the electric car's airbags failed to deploy and the driver's seat collapsed. This caused a flurry of criticism regarding the quality.

Xiaomi's official response

The company stated that the SU7 Max is not intended for use on race tracks:

"Xiaomi SU7 Max is a high-performance luxury car for use on public roads. Please do not attempt extreme driving such as professional race tracks. The braking system of Xiaomi SU7 Max uses NAO (non-asbestos organic) friction pads, which are suitable for daily driving. They strike a balance between noise and efficiency, and meet the requirements of driving on public roads."

"Due to the high speed, high kinetic energy accumulation, harsh braking and rapid component wear under constant high load and high temperature in track conditions, all major components of the vehicle must fulfil requirements that far exceed those of everyday conditions."

For the race track, Xiaomi offers the sedan in SU7 Ultra variant with carbon-ceramic brakes that can withstand up to 1,300°C.

The problem is in the details

The Xiaomi SU7 Max weighs over 2,000kg, but its brake pads are smaller than those of the Honda CR-V crossover. In everyday driving, the weak brakes are compensated for by regenerative braking, but on the track, this system is not enough. Xiaomi should consider the experience of other manufacturers and install brakes on its car that match its weight and power.

Source: Carscoops