This Electric Vehicle Features the Largest Clamshell Hood in the World | Carscoops

      The previous record holder for the largest clamshell hood in production was the Genesis G90.

      9 hours ago

      by Brad Anderson

      The YU7 features an enormous aluminum clamshell hood that covers nearly 34 square feet in total.

      Xiaomi has announced three variants of the SUV, including both single- and dual-motor options.

      Details on the pricing for the all-electric model, which competes with Tesla’s Model Y, will be disclosed in July.

      Xiaomi has clearly decided that producing one of the fastest and most powerful EVs wasn't sufficient. Earlier this month, the company unveiled the highly anticipated YU7, its second model and first-ever SUV, following the SU7. While it shares several design aspects with the sedan, the YU7 is larger and includes its own distinct features. Additionally, it boasts the largest clamshell hood of any production vehicle currently available.

      Recent information from China indicates that the YU7’s sizable clamshell hood measures a substantial 3.11 square meters (33.5 square feet or 4,820 square inches). This is a significant increase compared to the Genesis G90’s notable 2.6 square meters (28 square feet or 4,030 square inches). Clearly, the electric vehicle industry was in need of a hood size competition.

      Typically, a hood as large as the one on the YU7 would be quite heavy. However, Xiaomi has constructed it from aluminum instead of steel, effectively cutting its weight in half. Despite being lightweight, it requires the support of two large struts to prevent it from collapsing like a flimsy lawn chair.

      Underneath that substantial exterior, the YU7 features a 141-liter (4.9 cubic-foot) storage compartment, also referred to as a “frunk” in more technical terms. While it may not be the largest frunk among EVs, it is adequately spacious. Still, there remains some uncertainty as to whether this frunk belongs to the single, rear-wheel drive model or if it is also included in the two dual-motor, all-wheel drive variants.

      One of the notable aspects of the YU7 is the slender, 43.3-inch HyperVision Panoramic display located at the base of the windshield. This display presents all critical vehicle information as well as a multimedia screen for the passenger. BMW is also developing a similar panoramic display, but it has not yet been featured in a production vehicle.

      The base versions of the YU7 are equipped with a 96.3 kWh battery pack. The entry-level model pairs this battery with a motor that delivers 316 hp and 389 lb-ft (528 Nm) of torque to the rear wheels, while the mid-tier YU7 incorporates all-wheel drive thanks to its two motors that produce a combined output of 489 hp and 509 lb-ft (690 Nm). In contrast, the top-tier YU7 Max utilizes a 101.7 kWh battery and two motors yielding a total of 681 hp and 639 lb-ft (866 Nm). There has been no mention of whether the YU7 will also feature a 1,526 hp Ultra variant like its sedan counterpart.

      The YU7 is scheduled to be launched in China this July, with Xiaomi promising to provide further details at that time, including pricing and any potential plans for availability outside of its home market.