JLR was stung by its experience selling the unreliable Jaguar i-Pace and is determined to get its next EVs right. And there are plenty of them on the way – the brand has promised to launch six electric models by 2026. The first of those is the full-size Range Rover EV, which goes on sale later this year, but the electric Velar won’t be far behind.

Expected to make its debut in spring 2026 as a MY27 SUV, the Velar is currently hot-lapping Germany’s 12.9-mile (20.8-km) Nurburgring track in prototype form, having last been scooped by our spy photo team in snowy Arctic conditions back in February.

Related: 2027 Range Rover Velar EV Is Coming For The Macan Electric

Although no one at Land Rover really expects buyers to hit the Ring, these testing sessions are crucial to finding out how the chassis and brakes handle the heft of a battery pack that’s got to be around 100 kWh (like the Macan) in capacity, and thus, not exactly featherweight, and whether the electric setup can survive extreme use.

Disguise on the rear end still has us wondering whether Land Rover will junk the Velar’s rear window, but we can at least make out the slim LED lights front and rear, narrow window aperture in the side view and a set of wide fender lips. The doors also appear to have switched to a frameless glass design to enhance the coupe feel.

The profile isn’t hugely different to the current combustion Velar’s but the EV is all-new under the skin, where you’ll find the company’s new EMA architecture. Not even the $150,000+ Range Rover EV gets this advanced platform, which allows over-air updates and could allow charging speeds higher than the 270 kW its rival from Stuttgart can swallow.

Other electric Land Rovers destined to use the EMA building blocks include the next Evoque and a baby Defender that is likely to replace today’s Discovery Sport. JLR said in 2023 that EMA would be electric-only, but we wouldn’t be surprised if that policy has changed given the slowdown in EV takeup in some key countries, including the US. In any case, even if it has switched plans to include hybrid tech, it hasn’t announced anything just yet.

SHProshots

For many drivers accustomed to tame, underpowered daily commuters, even the base version of the Tesla Model Y can feel like a thrilling step up. But for those who want more than just a taste of performance, the standard Model Y doesn’t quite cut it. Fortunately, Tesla has something in the works for that crowd.

Read: New Tesla Model Y Performance Breaks Cover, Plaid Wheels And All

For several months now, the automaker has been developing a new Model Y Performance. It’ll follow the same basic recipe as the first-generation model and likely be equipped with the same powertrain as the current Model 3 Performance.

Testing at the Green Hell

Our spy photographers have snapped it testing multiple times around the world, and recently, a camouflaged prototype was seen out and about on the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

In a recent clip shared to Instagram by Wilcoblok and Teslaplaidtok, the prototype was captured exiting the pit lane and gradually merging onto the famed circuit. It was driven at a relaxed pace, offering no clues about its true performance potential.

Since Tesla hasn’t recorded an official lap time at the track with the current Model 3 Performance, it seems unlikely they’ll attempt one with the Model Y Performance either. If they did, a time somewhere in the eight-minute range seems reasonable.

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Powertrain and Performance Specs

Like its sedan sibling, the Model Y Performance will use a pair of electric motors, which should combine to produce the same 510 hp and 554 lb-ft of torque. Due to the added size and weight of the Y, it won’t be quite as quick, but it should still run to 60 mph (96 km/h) in around 3.2 seconds. This would be a slight improvement from the old model’s 3.5-second time, making it the fastest version of the electric crossover ever.

Visually, this prototype looks like it has more aggressive bumpers than the regular Model Y. We can also see a large lip spoiler at the rear. Last month, a Model Y Performance was filmed testing without camouflage, revealing a distinctive rear bumper with two subtle diffusers.

We expect to see the new Model Y Performance premiere before the end of the year. Prices won’t be known until then, but it’s a safe bet that it’ll start at around $55,000.

Baldauf

Xiaomi clearly isn’t content with simply being one of the fastest cars to ever lap the Nurburgring. It just went and made that record even faster. Less than a year after securing a top-five finish for its prototype and taking the number one spot for production electric cars, the company returned for another round. This time, not only did the team succeed, but they shaved nearly 24 seconds off their previous time at the hands of driver David Pittard.

Read: Xiaomi SUV’s Tesla-Beating Pricing Sparks Frenzy With 289,000 Orders In An Hour

For reference, that record was 6:46.87 for the SU7 Ultra prototype. If you’re scratching your head a bit, don’t worry; it’s not just you. Xiaomi has been setting separate record times for both the prototype SU7 and the production version of the same car, which can certainly make things a little tricky to follow.

The production car arguably has an even more impressive record, despite going slower (7:04.957) because it’s the sole leader in the production EV category. To achieve that, it beat the Porsche Taycan and none other than the Rimac Nevera. Yes, the bonkers hypercar was slower than this four-door Chinese sedan. All of that said, this new prototype record is no joke.

The New Record: 6:22.091

The not-for-sale stripped-down SU7 Ultra managed a 6:22.091 lap. That usurps the Lotus Evija X prototype that did it in 6:24.04. Now, the SU7 Ultra sits in third place, and that’ll likely be where it stays. Bumping the second-place finisher, the VW ID.R down would mean going faster than 6:05.33. First place is out of reach for just about everyone. That’s the record set by Timo Bernhard of 5:19:546.

Special Editions: Track Package and Nurburgring Edition

Still, Xiaomi’s performance here is deserving of praise, provided everything is above board. That said, the brand is celebrating the new record with two new special editions. The first, simply called the Track Package, will cost 100,000 yuan (approximately US$13,950 at current exchange rates). It adds a track-grade high-power battery pack, upgraded cooling, optimized brakes, Nurburgring-tuned suspension components, and a top speed of 217 mph (350 km/h).

An even more exclusive version is on the way, dubbed the Nürburgring edition. This special model comes with unique underbody panels, a new roll cage replacing the rear seats, and aerodynamic tweaks on the exterior to set it apart from the rest of the SU7 lineup.

Priced at 814,900 yuan in China (around $114,000), Xiaomi will produce just 10 examples for 2025, with total production capped at 100 to “ensure exclusivity.” Sure, that’s a hefty sum no matter where you are, but the level of performance you’re getting in return is undeniably impressive.

Under the slinky Porsche-esque design, you’ll find three electric motors that make a combined 1,527 hp (1,138 kW) and 1,306 lb-ft (1,770 Nm) of torque. It’s one thing for a brand to claim that it’s capable of building fast cars and a very different thing to put hypercar makers on notice.

Credit: Nurburgring

Breaking speed records isn’t just reserved for hypercars these days. Xiaomi, better known for smartphones than for chasing lap times, caught out attention last year when a prototype of its SU7 electric sedan clocked a 6:46.874 at the Nurburgring. Now it’s back with something more official. The production version has secured the title of fastest electric vehicle at the Green Hell, posting a verified lap time of 7:04.957.

More: Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Smashes Taycan Turbo GT’s Lap Record At Shanghai Circuit

Despite being a full 18 seconds slower than the stripped-out prototype that came with more aggressive aero, the production Xiaomi SU7 Ultra was faster than the Rimac Nevera hypercar (7:05:298) and the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (7:07:55).

Faster Than a Rimac. Yes, Really

While the new time is a full 18 seconds slower than the earlier prototype run, which featured stripped-out weight savings and more aggressive aerodynamics, the production SU7 Ultra still managed to outpace all the heavy hitters. It not only beat the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT’s time of 7:07.55, but also edged out the Rimac Nevera, which previously clocked a 7:05.298.

Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed who was behind the wheel for the Nurburgring run, but it did clarify that the car used was a production-spec model fitted with the optional track package.

CEO Lei Jun added that this won’t be the last we see of Xiaomi at the ‘Ring, suggesting the company is settling in for the long haul. To back it up, Xiaomi released an onboard video of the lap, which was also picked up by the official Nurburgring website and YouTube channel.

The video shows that the EV reaching 345 km/h (214 mph) on the long straight, just shy of its claimed top speed of 350 km/h (218 mph). Powering that performance is a tri-motor setup delivering a combined 1,527 hp (1,138 kW or 1,548 PS) and 1,306 lb-ft (1,770 Nm) of torque. That’s enough to send the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra from 0 to 100 km/h (0–62 mph) in just 1.89 seconds.

More: Xiaomi’s First SUV Looks Like A Ferrari But It’s Priced Like A Tesla

Interestingly, SU7 Ultra owners don’t get the full 1,527 hp right out of the box. By default, the car delivers around 888 hp (900 PS or 662 kW). To unlock the rest, drivers need to complete a qualifying lap on a Xiaomi-approved track. The car’s onboard Qualifying Mode logs and verifies the lap time, proving whether the driver can handle the extra power.

Hypercar Numbers, Mid-Range Price

Despite offering performance and specs that rival hypercars, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra is surprisingly affordable. The performance flagship starts at ¥529,000 (about $73,600) in China, making it significantly less expensive than the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, which starts at ¥1,998,000 ($278,000) locally.

Xiaomi