Xiaomi SU7 Brake Fire: What Really Happened on the Racetrack?

A viral video showing a Xiaomi SU7 brake fire during a track test has been making the rounds, and Xiaomi Auto is clearing the air.

If you’ve seen the footage, you’re probably wondering: Is this a major safety issue?

Let’s dive into the details, break down what happened, and look at the physics behind why high-performance brakes can sometimes catch a little flame.

This is the official breakdown from Xiaomi Auto (Xiaomi Qiche 小米汽车), straight from their Q&A with Netizens.

Key Points

The Xiaomi SU7 brake fire occurred during an extreme track test at Tianjin V1 racetrack where a vital cool-down lap was skipped, and the car was parked immediately after a high-speed lap.
Xiaomi Auto (小米汽车) stated the core braking system did not fail; the fire was a surface ignition of organic brake pad material due to extreme heat (over 600°C / 1112°F).
A key safety feature, the “enhanced energy recovery” function (part of “Master Mode” designed to reduce brake load and heat), was not activated during this test.
Brake pad ignition under such conditions is a “normal physical phenomenon” for performance vehicles, especially when not properly prepared for track use (e.g., without activating track-specific features or professional upgrades).


Aspect	Detail
Vehicle	Xiaomi SU7 Max
Location	Tianjin V1 Racetrack
Test Type	Extreme track test (1 warm-up, 1 flying lap)
Trigger	Skipped cool-down lap; immediate parking after high-speed run
Outcome	Surface ignition of brake pad material
Core System Failure?	No, brakes remained functional

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Decoding the Viral Brake Fire Incident

First, let’s set the scene. Here’s the play-by-play of the incident:

The Car: A brand new Xiaomi SU7 Max (Xiaomi SU7 小米YU7) model.

The Location: The professional Tianjin V1 racetrack.

The Test: This wasn’t your average Sunday drive. The driver completed one warm-up lap and then one intense “flying lap” at high speed.

The Trigger: Instead of doing a crucial cool-down lap to let the brakes shed heat, the car was parked immediately.

This sequence of events created an extreme condition, pushing the braking system to its thermal limits and causing the organic material in the brake pads to ignite.

Xiaomi’s Take: It’s Physics, Not Failure

Enhanced Energy Recovery Function Details

Purpose: Designed for track conditions to aggressively recapture braking energy.
Benefit: Reduces load and heat on traditional mechanical brakes.
Capacity: Provides up to 0.2G of braking energy recovery.
ABS Integration: Operates even when ABS system is locking up.
Heat Control: Critical for preventing brake temperatures from exceeding 600°C (1112°F).
Usage in Incident: Was NOT activated during the track test.

Xiaomi was quick to respond, and their explanation is pretty fascinating for any tech or car enthusiast.

Here’s their official stance:

The core braking system did not fail.

This is the most important point. Xiaomi emphasizes that the brakes remained fully functional and operated normally throughout the test. The fire was a surface-level event on the pads, not a catastrophic system failure.

A Key Performance Feature Was Turned Off.

The test vehicle was *not* using the “enhanced energy recovery” function, which is a part of the SU7’s “Master Mode.”

So, what does this feature do?

It’s specifically designed for track conditions to aggressively recapture energy when braking.

By doing so, it reduces the load and heat on the traditional mechanical brakes.

Xiaomi claims it can provide up to 0.2G of braking energy recovery, even when the ABS system is locking up.

This feature is critical for preventing brake temperatures from soaring past 600°C (1112°F)—the point where things can get fiery.

Essentially, a built-in safety net for track driving wasn’t activated during this extreme test.

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A Quick Lesson in Why Performance Brakes Can Catch Fire

So, why would a brake pad ignite in the first place? It comes down to chemistry under pressure.

Track driving involves repeated, hard braking from incredibly high speeds, putting a massive load on the braking system.

The Xiaomi SU7 Max uses low-metallic brake pads, a common choice for performance vehicles. These pads are a cocktail of materials:

Metal fibers
Abrasives
Resin and other organic compounds

Here’s the simple science:

Heat Builds Up: At high temperatures (over 300°C or 572°F), the resin and organic bits in the pad start to break down, releasing combustible gases.

Ignition Point: If the brake discs get even hotter (typically exceeding 600°C or 1112°F) and there’s plenty of oxygen, these gases can briefly ignite.

Xiaomi points out that this is a “normal physical phenomenon” under such intense conditions and doesn’t mean the brakes have failed.

It’s a well-known occurrence in motorsport and high-performance driving circles.

Should You Track Your SU7? A Word of Caution from Xiaomi


Category	Action/Consideration	Rationale
Vehicle Type	Luxury C-class high-performance sedan for urban environments	Not primarily designed for continuous, extreme track use in stock form.
Professional Upgrades	Must upgrade tires, braking system, and cooling system for serious track use.	Stock setup isn’t designed for repeated track abuse; enhances safety and performance.
Driver Knowledge	Understand the car’s and your own limits; professional driving skills recommended.	Crucial for safe operation and maximizing performance without undue risk.
Track-Specific Features	Activate “Master Mode” and “enhanced energy recovery” function.	These features mitigate risks and improve performance under extreme conditions like track driving.
Post-Run Procedure	ALWAYS perform a cool-down lap.	Allows brakes to shed heat gradually and prevents conditions leading to ignition.

While the SU7 is a high-performance machine, Xiaomi positions it as a luxury C-class high-performance sedan for urban environments.

They strongly advise against taking an unmodified, factory-stock vehicle to the track without understanding the risks and preparing correctly.

If you’re an owner or aspiring owner with track day dreams, here’s the essential checklist:

Professional Upgrades are a Must: For serious track use, you need to upgrade the tires, braking system, and cooling system. A stock setup is not designed for the repeated abuse of a racetrack.

Know Your Car’s Limits: And your own! Professional driving skills are built over time. It’s crucial to understand the product’s performance limits before pushing them.

Activate Track-Specific Features: If you *do* hit the track, make sure to engage “Master Mode” and its “enhanced energy recovery” function. It’s there for a reason—to mitigate risks and improve performance under extreme conditions.

Final Thoughts

So, what’s the big takeaway from the Xiaomi SU7 brake fire incident?

It’s less of a “scandal” and more of a powerful real-world lesson in vehicle dynamics and the importance of proper procedure.

The incident highlights the incredible stress that track driving places on a car and confirms that even advanced EVs are subject to the laws of physics.

For prospective buyers and techies, it’s a good reminder that while the SU7 is powerful, its peak performance on a track is unlocked with the right settings and professional-grade modifications.

Ultimately, the footage of the Xiaomi SU7 brake fire serves as an important PSA for anyone looking to push their high-performance vehicle to the edge: know your machine, use its features, and always, always do a cool-down lap.