Xiaomi is getting ready to launch its very first electric vehicle (EV), and it’s generating quite a buzz. This news is coming from a source called Pandaily based in Beijing, and they’re saying Xiaomi’s upcoming car will come in two versions: one fully electric and the other with an extended-range powertrain.
This report follows another piece of news that said Xiaomi is hiring engineers in China to work on extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) range extenders. What’s interesting is that the basic model will use a 400V voltage platform and a BYD Blade Battery, while the fancier version will go for an 800V voltage platform and a CATL Qilin Battery with a big 101kWh battery pack.
Now, let’s talk about the extended-range version. This one is expected to have either a 1.5-liter or 1.5T range extender paired with a big battery. If you’re wondering what a range extender is, it’s a gasoline engine that can help extend the range of a battery electric vehicle. It does this by powering an electric generator that charges the car’s battery. So, this choice by Xiaomi could give their car a longer range, which is great news for potential buyers.
When it comes to the design, Xiaomi’s first car is aiming to catch the eye of the younger generation. It’ll be a sleek coupe with a low profile, a longer front, and a sporty fastback rear end.
But that’s not all. Recently, the car was spotted on Bluetooth SIG certification, and it spilled the beans on some of its tech features. It will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chipset, Bluetooth 5.2, USB Media functions, and even support for Apple CarPlay.
Xiaomi is making big strides in the car manufacturing world since announcing its entry into the industry. Mass production is expected to kick off in 2024, and right now, the car is in the trial production stage. Reportedly, they’re churning out about 50 prototype cars each week. So, we’ll definitely be hearing more about Xiaomi’s car in the near future.
