Xiaomi has already proved its SU7 mettle at the Nurburging, demolishing the fastest times set by its Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S rivals. But what happens when you take those corners out of the equation? That’s what we find out in a new Carwow video pitting the the top-spec SU7, the Ultra, against a Model S Plaid.

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It’s no understatement to say things don’t look good for the Tesla going into this fight. We now live in a world so crazy that even the Plaid’s once outrageous four-figure power output seems kind of ordinary.

Its 1,006 hp (1,020 PS) and 1,047 lb-ft (1,420 Nm) stats are dwarfed by the SU7 Ultra’s 1,527 hp (1,548 PS) and 1,306 lb-ft (1,770 Nm), and though the Tesla fights back with a 375 lbs (170 kg) advantage you don’t need to reach for a calculator to know it’s on the backfoot.

Launch Control Drama

But when the flag drops it’s the Plaid that drops the SU7, again and again. Carwow host Matt Watson has spent more time on runways than most pilots and is obviously a dab hand at launching cars, both in terms of reacting to the flag and managing wheelspin – and the more powerful SU7 obviously has more wheelspin to manage. But it’s still a shock to see how long it take the Xiaomi to even begin to start reeling the Tesla in.

But once it gets going, it makes the Plaid look like it’d struggle to outrun a Dacia Spring. The in-car shot from the Tesla looking across Watson to the SU7 streaking by is mind blowing. However, the resulting quarter-mile times are pretty close.

That’s because the Xiaomi takes so long to hit its stride – 9.3 seconds for the SU7, 9.5 seconds for the Model S – and based on this evidence the Chinese car might not have the space to make up the ground in your average stoplight grudge match.

US-based Plaid owners don’t have to worry about finding out because Xiaomi doesn’t offer cars in America yet (though European sales are on the horizon). And that’s just as well for Tesla, because in China, the Ultra sells for the equivalent of $74,300, while the Plaid is almost $100k in the US.

Lead image Carwow

Stellantis is in the verge of a major shakeup of its motorsport activities, with Citroen Racing taking the place of Maserati MSG in Formula E. The French marque may be most closely associated with rallying success, but it has been tapped as the more suitable contender for the all-electric championship.

Citroen will compete in FIA’s Formula E championship starting from the coming season. Its return to motor racing as a factory team is described as an “electric, innovative and passionate adventure that embodies our values and our vision for the mobility of tomorrow”.

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A teaser video on social media gives us a glimpse of the brand’s electric single seater that will be unveiled on October 20. The cover photo on Facebook with the Citroen Racing Formula E Team logo makes us wonder if the new era will mark the end of the brand’s rallying days. A potential exit could coincide with the return of Stellantis stablemate Lancia in rallying, as the new Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale could replace the C3 Rally2 that has been around since 2018.

Citroen is known for winning eight Manufacturer’s titles and nine consecutive Driver’s titles in WRC, during the dominant period of Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena between 2004 and 2012. It also has four Rally Dakar wins with the ZX Rally Raid back in the ’90s.

Outside rallying, it won three consecutive FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) driver’s and manufacturer’s titles between 2014 and 2016 with a racing version of the C-Elysée sedan.

Replacing Maserati

Citroen Racing will replace Maserati MSG that entered Formula E in 2023, taking the torch from Venturi Racing. The team is fresh out of a collapsed takeover earlier this year, and despite striking a total of three wins (one on every season), has reportedly struggled with financial backing.

Another reason for the demise of Maserati from Formula E is the brand’s new strategy in terms of electrification, with less emphasis on the Folgore-branded EVs and the cancellation of the electric MC20 supercar.

More: Nissan’s Next Electric Halo Could Be Born On A Formula E Racetrack

As with Maserati MSG, Citroen Racing will borrow the technical bits from another Stellantis brand that competes in Formula E, DS Automobiles, which has won multiple wins and championship titles over the past decade. DS is currently operated by Penske, but it is not clear whether it will remain on the championship for the upcoming Gen4 single-seater era.

As reported by The Race, Opel could also apply for a Formula E license in the future, something that sounds fitting for its recently renewed GSE performance division.

Citroen Racing will join a grid of 10 Formula E teams for the upcoming season. Rivals include Nissan, Ford, Jaguar TCS, Tag Heuer Porsche, DS Penske, Envision, Lola Yamaha Abt, Mahindra, and Andretti.

Mini has decided to have some fun with its John Cooper Works lineup, creating two one-off hatchbacks in collaboration with lifestyle label Deus Ex Machina. The pair, named Machina and Skeg, pay tribute to Mini’s racing DNA with oversized bodywork, bespoke cabins, and standout graphics. One runs on petrol, the other on electricity, but both are equally dramatic.

More: This Is One MINI We Can Get Into

The duo is based on the latest JCW and JCW Electric, each reworked with custom styling cues and handcrafted interiors. Machina takes its cues from the racetrack, while Skeg leans into a surf-inspired, laid-back aesthetic. What ties them together are the oversized roof graphics, Deus branding, and deliberately asymmetric wraps that make them hard to miss.

Track-Ready Machina

Starting with the Machina, the hatchback rocks a red, white, and black livery. Exterior upgrades include wide fender extensions, retro-flavored lights on the hood, a custom grille, a Can-Am-style rear wing, and a larger diffuser. Furthermore, the headlights have LED bars instead of the regular graphics, making room for additional air intakes.

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The stripped-out interior boasts racing buckets with five-point harnesses, a three spoke steering wheel, aluminum floor plates, and an exposed roll cage. The modified JCW also gains a hydraulic handbrake and a bunch of toggle switches on the center console which are easier to operate compared to the menus of the circular touchscreen.

Surf-Inspired Skeg

The electric Skeg takes a very different approach, swapping track grit for coastal flair. Its silver, black, and yellow graphics mix with raw fiberglass panels that nod to surfboard construction. The closed grille glows with illumination and seven round cutouts along the bottom, giving it a playful edge.

Its bodywork is even more extreme than the Machina’s, with oversized translucent fiberglass fender extensions that reduce weight by 15 percent. Racing wheels, a bright yellow diffuser, and an enormous “Flex Tip Surf Spoiler” on the roof complete the look.

Inside, the Skeg has more semi-transparent fiberglass panels, a pair of racing buckets with neoprene upholstery, straps instead of door handles, and a rear surfboard on the fiberglass roof. The latter is being held into place by two yellow tension straps which are also visible from the exterior. Mini designers also threw in fiberglass trays for wetsuits.

No Extra Power, Just Extra Personality

Despite their aggressive appearances, both hatchbacks use standard JCW running gear. The Machina relies on a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 228 hp (170 kW/231 PS) and 380 Nm of torque, while the all-electric Skeg delivers 255 hp (190 kW/258 PS) and 350 Nm. Each sits on the familiar John Cooper Works chassis without further tuning, proving the wild styling isn’t matched by performance tweaks.

More: Future Mini EVs Could Go RWD Thanks To BMW

These one-off hot hatches won’t see showrooms, but they will be joined by a Mini x Deus Ex Machina apparel line launching September 8 at the IAA Mobility Show in Munich. Unlike the cars, the clothing will actually be available to buy through the Deus Ex Machina network

Mini