The Xiaomi YU7 GT has smashed the SUV record at the Nürburgring

Xiaomi has unveiled a new range topping trim for its YU7 SUV, and because the Chinese firm has recently developed a healthy obsession with German forests, it decided the best way to create some noise around it was to fire it around the Nürburgring.

We shouldn’t be surprised given that its twin electric motors combine to produce a total of 989bhp, but still... it was really very quick indeed.

In fact, the YU7 GT set a ludicrously quick time of 7m 22.755s, smashing the Audi RSQ8’s previous SUV record by a full 14 seconds. Must be those racing stripes…

Xiaomi says this is its first model to be developed “with deep involvement from technical experts at Xiaomi EV's Europe R&D Centre”. Its team in Munich apparently spent two years tuning the car, and you can watch the results of their work in the video below. It’s a stonkingly fast and yet still surprisingly serene ‘Ring lap.

The GT is wider than a standard YU7 and gets a full bodykit, carbon trim, an active rear diffuser and optional 21in forged wheels. Like the similarly rapid SU7 Ultra saloon, it also gets 24-carat gold and carbon fibre badges. Hope they’re glued down well.

Under the skin there’s a 101.7kWh battery that apparently provides a range of 438 miles on China’s generous CLTC test. There’s also carbon ceramic brakes, dual-valve variable dampers, dual-chamber air suspension and an electronic limited slip diff on the rear axle.

Xiaomi reckons on a 0-62mph time of just 2.92 seconds and a top speed of 186mph. Not bad for a family crossover.

Oh, and here’s the best bit. In China the YU7 GT costs the equivalent of £42,682. That’s what you’d be paying for a top spec Vauxhall Grandland EV. No wonder the YU7 is selling like hotcakes in its homeland. It does look mighty familiar though. Wonder if it’ll ever make it to our shores.