During MWC 2026, Lu Weibing, Partner, President of Xiaomi Group, and President of the Mobile Phone Division, engaged with media representatives. When questioned about the rationale behind unveiling the Xiaomi Vision GT concept car, Lu explained that the racing game Forza Motorsport integrates real-world vehicles into its virtual environment. Following the launch of the Xiaomi SU7 and SU7 Ultra, the game's development team observed significant global interest in a high-performance vehicle from China. They subsequently requested that Xiaomi's car be included in the game. As a result, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra is now featured in the game, allowing players to experience a virtual version of the actual vehicle.
The concept car represents a further step. The game's team invited Xiaomi to leverage its imagination and design a futuristic racing car specifically for the virtual world, marking the first time a Chinese automotive brand has undertaken such a project. Lu Weibing noted that designing a vehicle in the real world involves numerous practical constraints, whereas the virtual realm offers complete creative freedom. However, the Forza concept car is not designed contrary to physical laws; it is theoretically feasible from an engineering standpoint and adheres to aerodynamic principles, which was a major attraction for the team.
When designing the vehicle, Xiaomi considered what would differentiate its approach and why the Forza team specifically invited the company. A key distinction, according to Lu, is that Forza views Xiaomi as a technology company rather than a traditional automaker. Consequently, as a tech firm, Xiaomi's vision for a futuristic concept car should diverge from conventional approaches. While traditional automotive design focuses on achieving peak performance, Xiaomi incorporated extensive innovations in human-machine interaction based on future AI capabilities. Instead of solely relying on the driver to perceive the vehicle, this concept car is equipped with numerous sensors and AI algorithms that enable it to perceive the driver—a unique capability highlighted as a significant differentiator.
Lu Weibing concluded by noting that previously, vehicles featured in Forza were typically from brands like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Ferrari. The opportunity for Xiaomi, as a new automaker, to design a vehicle alongside these established names reflects recognition of Xiaomi and, by extension, Chinese technology on the global stage.
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