The electric Range Rover was spotted at the ‘Ring, looking the same as the ICE model.
Four Range Rover EV models will be launched by the end of 2026.
Electric versions of the Range Rover and the Range Rover Sport are in the works and not long after our photographers snapped the latter up close, JLR’s engineers have taken it to the Nurburgring for a punishing testing regime.
JLR is planning to launch four battery-electric Range Rover models by the end of 2026, and the Sport is tipped to be the second to launch. The spotted prototype looks virtually identical to the ICE-powered model, with the only obvious giveaway being the lack of exhausts and the silent running. Viewed from afar, most people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the EV and the regular gas model.
Few technical specifications are known about the electric Range Rover Sport. It’s expected to launch with the same 800-volt electrical architecture as the full-size Range Rover Electric. Performance should be more than adequate, and we expect it to easily eclipse the 355 hp delivered by the entry-level ICE Range Rover Sport. Whether or not it rivals the 534 hp PHEV version or the flagship SV with its 626 hp remains to be seen, but for most customers, peak horsepower won’t be particularly important.
Like most luxury vehicles, most Range Rover models these days are used to cruise through cities and on the open road. As such, the electric model should appeal to those looking for something comfortable, quiet, refined, and with adequate power, leaving drag races to YouTubers with Teslas.
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An advanced traction control system will also come standard on all electric Range Rover models. This system will be operated by individual electric drive control units, cutting the torque reaction time at each wheel from roughly 100 milliseconds to “as little as 1 millisecond.”
Land Rover will lift the veil on the first electric Range Rovers next year.
The YangWang U9 is the fastest Chinese production model with a top speed of 243.54 mph.
The electric supercar lapped the Nurburgring at 7:17.900, although it could likely do better.
The lap time falls short of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, and Rimac Nevera.
BYD is back in the news again, this time with its YangWang U9 electric supercar claiming a Nürburgring lap time of 7:17.900 and a headline-grabbing top speed of 391.94 km/h (243.54 mph). The latter earns the U9 the title of the fastest Chinese production car to date. Impressive numbers, no doubt—but as always, the devil is in the details, and on closer inspection, these achievements begin to show their limits.
Good, But Far From Great
Let’s start with the Nürburgring lap time: 7:17.900 is respectable, particularly for a fully electric car. However, in the pantheon of high-performance EVs, the YangWang U9 isn’t exactly rewriting the history books. It’s a full 30 seconds adrift of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype’s blistering 6:46.874 and also lags behind production benchmarks like the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (7:07.55) and the Rimac Nevera (7:05.298).
The Chinese carmaking giant also shared onboard footage of the fastest lap on social media platforms, hinting that the YangWang U9 may not have been pushed to its full potential. In the video, the EV reaches a maximum of 275 km/h (171 mph) on the German track’s final long straight.
On November 7, the YangWang U9 hit a top speed of 391.94 km/h (243.54 mph) on an oval test track, setting a new record for Chinese production cars. This achievement also places it among the fastest EVs globally, though it still trails behind the Aspark Owl’s impressive 438.7 km/h (272.6 mph) and the Rimac Nevera’s 412 km/h (256 mph).
After reviewing the video of the top-speed run, it’s evident that BYD held back during its lap at the Green Hell. One possible explanation for the driver’s conservative approach could be an unspecified technical issue, though the company has chosen not to elaborate on the matter, leaving room for speculation.
The Chinese supercar is equipped with quad electric motors producing a combined 1,287 hp (1,305 PS) and 1,239 lb-ft (1,680 Nm) of torque. The EV tips the scales at a hefty 2,475 kg (5,456 pounds) and uses an 80 kWh battery pack, which is good for a CLTC range of 289 miles (465 km) on the road.
BYD’s engineers reportedly spent six months testing the U9 at the Nürburgring, experimenting with a range of setups and tire configurations. Despite this extensive effort, the lap time suggests there’s still room for improvement. At this stage, it’s unclear whether BYD intends to return to the Green Hell for another attempt to shave down its time.
The YangWang U9’s final lap time will be added to the Nürburgring’s official record list once BYD completes several certification processes. According to Chinese media, this delay is due to the fact that the production model has not yet been introduced to the European market. Meanwhile, in China, the YangWang U9 is already available for order, with prices starting at ¥1.68 million ($233,000).
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Prototype set a new Nurburgring record for four-door EVs, lapping in 6:46.874.
The road-going model can hit 62 mph in just 1.98 seconds and brake from 62 mph in just 101 feet (30.8 meters).
Over 3,600 reservations were placed for the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra within 10 minutes of its official launch.
Xiaomi has shattered the Nurburgring record for a four-door car with the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Prototype and, at an event in Beijing, has also unveiled the production version of the flagship SU7. If you needed any more proof of how serious the consumer electronics giant is at tackling the fastest EVs on the planet, this is it.
First, the ‘Ring run. Xiaomi chief executive Lei Jun hinted at the achievement on social media, revealing the EV had lapped the circuit in just 6:46.874. It’s since been confirmed that with British driver David Pittard behind the wheel – who won the 2023 24 Hours of the Nurburgring – the SU7 Ultra Prototype did indeed lay down the gauntlet with that impressive time. This makes the car more than 20 seconds quicker than the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
Making the time all the more impressive is that it was achieved on a single attempt. Additionally, the car lost power for roughly 10 seconds, a moment which can be seen at around 4:15 in the video. Had that not happened, it would have been even quicker.
2025 Xiaomi SU7 Ultra
At a presentation to confirm the car’s Nurburgring feat, Xiaomi also lifted the veil on the production model. It’s unclear why the road-going model wasn’t the car that tackled Green Hell, but it promises much of the same performance credentials as the prototype, although it’s not quite as extreme.
Like the prototype, the SU7 Ultra features a trio of electric motors delivering 1,526 hp. This system consists of two of Xiaomi’s flagship V8s motors and one V6s motor. It gives the car a significant power advantage over the Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire. Xiaomi says it can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 1.98 seconds without a one-foot rollout, rocket to 124 mph (200 km/h) in 5.86 seconds, and power through until 217 mph (350 km/h).
Providing these motors with their juice is a CATL Qilin 2.0 battery and despite the extreme focus on performance, the car is said to have 391 miles (630 km) of range on the generous CLTC cycle. Xiaomi has extensively upgraded the cooling systems of the SU7 to make it home on a race track, improving the performance of the compressor, water pump, cooling fan, and radiator. It can reportedly complete two consecutive laps of the Nurburgring without overheating.
Brakes, suspension, aero
Any four-door sedan with over 1,500 hp needs some serious brakes, and the SU7 Ultra ticks that box, too. It comes standard with carbon ceramic discs at all four corners and can stop from 62 mph in just 101 feet (30.8 m). The front discs are a massive 16.9 inches (430 mm) and are the largest carbon discs of any current production sedan. Akebono has supplied the brake calipers, consisting of six-piston units at the front and four-piston units at the rear.
The upgrades don’t stop there. Xiaomi has fitted new dual-chamber air springs and dampers, or should customers prefer, the SU7 Ultra can be equipped with Bilstein Evo T1 coilovers offering 10 levels of compression and rebound adjustment. Complex torque vectoring is also standard and can adjust power from the motors at up to 500 times per second.
Visually, you’ll notice the production-ready SU7 Ultra is not as extreme as the prototype. It lacks that car’s motorsport-spec rear wing and has a smaller spoiler. The front end is also more restrained but does stand out from lesser versions of the electric sedan thanks to a new splitter and enlarged air intakes. Other upgrades include an active rear diffuser that adjusts while driving and new skirts. The car delivers up to 285 kg (628 lbs) of downforce.
Several interior enhancements complete the package. These include a newly-designed steering wheel with a flat top and flat bottom, a 12 o-clock marker, and is wrapped in Alcantara with carbon fiber accents. The wheel also includes a bright red Boost button. Elsewhere, shoppers will find new Alcantara parts adorning the cabin, and the UI of the instrument cluster, head-up display, and infotainment display have also been customized for a sportier look. An app dubbed Racetrack Master has also been added and allows drivers to record their lap sessions and view key performance parameters on the move.
The first customer deliveries are scheduled for March 2025. Prices start at 814,900 yuan (~$114,000), and in the first 10 minutes after the car’s release, Xiaomi had received 3,680 refundable deposits.
Xiaomi’s new SU7 Ultra electric sedan has reportedly lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in a crazy 6:46.874.
If true, the Ultra is more than 20 seconds faster than the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT and also wastes the Rimac Nevera.
The 1,527 hp SU7 Ultra is expected to debut later today and it should reach 62 mph from rest in under 2 seconds.
If you weren’t already taking Chinese automakers seriously, today is a good day to start. If comments made by Xiaomi’s boss are true, the smartphone maker’s new electric sedan has just annihilated the Porsche Taycan’s Nurburgring lap record.
Not broken, not smashed. Annihilated. CEO Lei Jun told his Weibo followers the hardcore 1,527 hp (1,548 PS) SU7 Ultra lapped the Nordschleife in 6:46.874, according to Reuters. If true, that would make it more than 20 seconds faster than a Taycan Turbo GT with the Weissach Pack that includes a rear-seat-delete. One of those lapped the Ring in 7:07.55 last year to become the fastest four-door car.
Even Rimac’s quad-motor Nevera hypercar, the fastest production EV at the track, could only manage 7:05.20. And although Rimac now has a more extreme version with improved aero that should take a good chunk out of that time, it’s going to look lame if it can’t topple the SU7.
Other famous track-ready two-door cars the Ultra beats include the 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (6:49.33), 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series (6:48.05) and Pagani Zonda R (6:47.50).
Xiaomi is expected to reveal the Ultra in full later today when we’ll get confirmation of the Ring time and more details about the car’s powertrain, chassis, and aero features. The automaker revealed a concept version of the Ultra in July that generated up to 2,145 kg (4,729 lbs) of downforce and weighed just 1,900 kg (4,189 lbs), making it roughly 465 kg (1,025 lbs) lighter than a Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
A triple-motor setup fired the concept to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 1.97 seconds, to 124 mph (200 km/h) in 5.97 seconds, and past the 186 mph (300 km/h) mark in 15 seconds. How much of that concept package is present on the production car we should know before the day is out.
The Kia EV4 will come with 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh battery packs, offering different range options for buyers.
Kia will release the EV4 in both sedan and hatchback versions, expanding its appeal to a broader market.
Both single-motor and dual-motor configurations are expected, with an all-wheel-drive version also in development.
Update 11/9: Kia’s EV4 prototype has been spotted once again, this time putting in laps on the Nürburgring as the brand continues to refine its latest electric offering. Interestingly, the hatchback version of the EV4 has also been making cameo appearances stateside, raising some interesting questions about its broader market ambitions. That said, there’s still no official word on whether the hatchback model seen here will find its way to North American showrooms. Along with fresh spy photos, we’ve gathered new details on the EV4’s interior, production plans, and expected launch timeline.
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What will it look like?
Kia has stripped away some of the bulky cladding and camouflage from its latest prototype of the EV4 compact hatch, providing us with an excellent opportunity to see the car’s production-spec bodywork in the flesh. As we’d long suspected, it looks extremely similar to the concept unveiled last year.
Oftentimes, concept cars are launched with crazy, over-the-top designs that are heavily diluted down for the road. That’s not the way Kia rolls, at least not in recent years. For example, the Kia EV9 shares most of its dramatic design with the concept that previewed it as do the smaller EV3 and EV5 SUVs. It’ll be the same with the EV4 that will be available in both hatchback and four-door sedan bodystyles, depending on the market.
The front end of this prototype scooped at the ‘Ring has a black lower grille and a set of dramatic headlights that run vertically and include bold LED daytime running lights. Viewed from the side, the EV looks almost identical to the concept and even rocks the same black and silver wheels designed to look like they’re triangular. The roofline of the road-going hatch model does appear to hit slightly higher than the concept, hence why the side windows stand a little taller.
Kia’s concept car looks continue across the rear fascia where there is a large spoiler stretching out from the roof. Interestingly, Kia is readying both sedan and hatch versions of the EV4, but only ever showcased a concept of the sedan. This means the rear fascia of this hatch prototype is much taller than the concept. Additionally, it also seems to have received a pair of bespoke taillights that’ll be different from those of the sedan version.
While we haven’t yet had the opportunity to peek inside the EV4 hatchback just yet, recent spy shots of the sedan version give us a good idea of what to anticipate. The dashboard leans heavily on the playbook established by Kia’s EV3 SUV sporting a massive glass panel that flows seamlessly from the driver’s side to the far edge of the center console.
This minimalist setup houses a dual-screen system, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a matching 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Sandwiched between these displays is a compact 5.3-inch climate control screen, delivering essential HVAC data without cluttering the design.
Below this floating display panel lies a control strip with a touch-sensitive interface offering shortcuts to key functions like Home, Media, and Map. Breaking up the haptic monotony is a drum-style volume control, providing at least one point of tactile interaction in an otherwise screen-heavy setup. Expect features like wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and likely ChatGPT-powered voice control making an appearance across the entire EV4 lineup.
Beneath all that sharp sheet metal, the Kia EV4 is expected to ride on the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform, the same advanced 800-volt architecture that underpins the EV3, EV6, and EV9. This distinguishes it from the EV5, which relies on the less sophisticated 400-volt N3 eK platform. The EV4 will share battery options with the EV3, offering 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh configurations, and at least 300 miles of range (+480 km).
In all likelihood, the EV4 will offer the same battery configurations as the EV3, with 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh options, and an entry-level version powered by a single electric motor pushing out 201 hp. A more muscular, dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant is also on the cards for those who need extra punch.
When will it go on sale?
Both the EV4 sedan and hatchback are set to make their world debut in the coming months, with a global rollout scheduled to begin in the second half of the year. However, some markets may have to wait until early 2026 to see the compact models. For the European market, production of the EV4 will take place at Kia’s upgraded manufacturing plant in Žilina, located in northwestern Slovakia.
The EV4 is part of a bigger EV plan
Kia has been aggressively expanding its electric vehicle lineup, with the EV4 being a key component in a much larger strategy. Under the company’s updated “Plan S,” Kia aims to launch 15 fully electric models and six new hybrids by 2027, cementing its place as a global EV contender. This plan spans everything from affordable urban vehicles to high-performance SUVs. Positioned in the middle of this range, the EV4 will provide a more accessible entry point to Kia’s electrified future, playing a pivotal role in the brand’s goal of selling 1.6 million eco-friendly vehicles annually by 2030.
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