The high-performance EV landscape changed permanently this morning. While the global tech community was descending upon Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026, raw spy shots and official teasers from Weibo confirmed a historic milestone: the Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo (VGT).
This is not just a digital marketing exercise for Gran Turismo 7; it is a physical manifesto. Following the high-stakes launch of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, the Vision GT represents the ultimate realization of Xiaomi’s $1.4 billion (10 billion yuan) initial commitment to the automotive sector. This massive capital injection, pledged by CEO Lei Jun in 2021, has culminated in the first-ever Chinese vehicle to enter the prestigious 28-year-old Vision GT program.
The Barcelona leak: A physical manifestation of the $1.4B bet
The Vision Gran Turismo program traditionally allows designers to ignore road regulations and mass-production costs. However, the Xiaomi Vision GT spotted under covers in Barcelona proves that Xiaomi is utilizing this “virtual” platform to test real-world physical limits.
- Central cockpit & mid-engine layout: Spy shots from reveal an extremely low-slung posture. Unlike the four-door SU7, the VGT features a central, low-seating configuration designed for an optimal polar moment of inertia.
- WEC-Inspired “Shark-Fin” aero: One of the most striking technical details is a longitudinal stability fin along the roofline. Mandatory for WEC Hypercar-class racing, this structure prevents the car from flipping during high-speed lateral slides. This level of extreme airflow management mirrors the modular precision seen in platforms like the Aria Repairable EV.
- XIAOMI branding: The wheel faces and carbon fiber side skirts bear the “XIAOMI” insignia, etched into lightweight alloys that house massive carbon-ceramic rotors.
By bringing a physical prototype to MWC 2026, Xiaomi is signaling that its $1.4 billion blueprint is no longer a software experiment; it is a hardware fortress designed to compete with Porsche, Ferrari, and Bugatti on both virtual and real-world tracks.
Technical specifications: The “HyperEngine” evolution
While the official full spec sheet is scheduled for March 1-2, 2026, the collaboration with Polyphony Digital and leaked Nürburgring test data allows us to reconstruct the VGT’s technical “skeleton.”
| Feature | Xiaomi SU7 Ultra (Production) | Xiaomi Vision GT (Concept) |
| Powertrain | Tri-Motor (V8s + V6s) | HyperEngine V10s (Estimated) |
| Max power | 1,548 PS | 1,900+ PS (Target) |
| 0-100 km/h | 1.98 Seconds | 1.75 Seconds (Virtual Target) |
| Top speed | 350 km/h | 410+ km/h |
| Aerodynamics | 628 lbs Downforce | 2,200+ lbs (Full Ground Effect) |
| Energy source | Qilin 2.0 Battery | Next-Gen Solid State |
| Aero package | Active Wing (285kg Downforce) | Shark-Fin + Full Ground Effect |
| Chassis | High-Strength Steel/Aluminum | Full Monocoque Carbon Fiber |
The Vision GT utilizes a Silicon Carbide (SiC) 900V platform, which Xiaomi spent a significant portion of its R&D budget to develop. This motor setup places Xiaomi at the absolute zenith of our most advanced EV motor rankings for 2026, providing a torque-vectoring response time measured in microseconds.
The Polyphony Digital collaboration: Why 2026?
The partnership between Xiaomi and Gran Turismo producer Kazunori Yamauchi began in June 2025. Following Yamauchi’s multiple test drives of the SU7 Ultra at the Nürburgring Nordschleife and Tsukuba, Xiaomi was commissioned to build the VGT.
- Digital Twin physics: Xiaomi EV’s vehicle dynamics team worked directly with Polyphony Digital to map the car’s physical “slip angle” and thermal throttling into the game engine.
- The VGT legacy: Xiaomi is the first Chinese automaker to join the program’s 28-year history, joining the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, and Mazda.
- Nürburgring ambitions: The SU7 Ultra already set a prototype mark of 6:22.091. The Vision GT is virtually designed to break the 6:00 barrier, effectively testing the aerodynamic limits of Xiaomi’s future “Phase 2” hypercars.
The cooling crisis: Mastering the 1.4MW thermal load
Managing 1,900+ horsepower in a compact EV chassis is a thermal nightmare. To handle the discharge rates required for 0–100 km/h in under 1.8 seconds, Xiaomi has adapted technology from its most advanced infrastructure.
- Direct-to-Cell cooling: The VGT likely utilizes a specialized variant of Data Center Cooling Technology. By circulating non-conductive coolant directly over the battery terminals and motor windings, Xiaomi can prevent the thermal “derating” that plagues most performance EVs after a single hot lap.
- Heat pipe aerodynamics: The front air-channel intakes are not just for downforce; they are strategically positioned to create a high-pressure zone that forces air through the radiators, cooling the tri-motor (or quad-motor) setup before exiting through the rear diffuser.
Strategic significance: The “Human x Car x Home” ecosystem
For the tech community, the Vision GT is proof of Topical Sovereignty. By proving they can master 410 km/h aerodynamics and 1,900hp power density, Xiaomi is validating the reliability of its entire technical stack.
If Xiaomi can master the signal integrity and processing required for a high-speed torque vectoring system, it can easily dominate the processing requirements for the next Small Language Model (SLM) that can run on our devices. The Vision GT is the “extreme testbed” for the sensors and AI algorithms that will eventually trickle down to the next generation of consumer electronics.
The verdict: A sovereign infrastructure
With an 11% stake in its own semiconductor supply chain and the $1.4B investment now fully active, Xiaomi is no longer just a smartphone maker building a car; it is an infrastructure titan. The Vision GT is a concrete step toward building independent AI and automotive capabilities, distinct from both U.S. and European legacy manufacturers.
