AssetID: 55526860
Headline: Revolutionary Chinese 'Gran Turismo' hyper car lets air pass through its bodywork
Caption: BY MARK WORGAN This revolutionary new hypercar design from Chinese firm Xiaomi allows air to pass through the car’s bodywork rather than around it. The firm, best known until now for its consumer electronics, revealed the full-scale concept model of its Vision Gran Turismo electric hypercar at Mobile World Congress 2026, following its initial unveiling at the company’s global launch event. For Xiaomi’s global electric vehicle design team, the brief offered a rare opportunity to reimagine the hypercar without the usual constraints of production, blending advanced aerodynamics with artificial intelligence-driven systems. “The invitation itself was a recognition of what Xiaomi has achieved,” said Tianyuan Li, design head of Xiaomi EV. “It allowed our teams in Munich, Beijing, and Shanghai to collaborate, to push boundaries, and to envision what a future hypercar could look like when designed without limits.” At the core of the Vision Gran Turismo concept is what Xiaomi describes as a search for aerodynamic balance. Rather than focusing solely on either ultra-low drag or maximum downforce, the company says it aimed to optimise overall efficiency for an electric hypercar. This thinking underpins the car’s design philosophy, described as “Sculpted by the Wind”. The body has been shaped to meet aerodynamic requirements without the use of prominent add-on elements, with each component designed to serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. From the side, the cockpit adopts a teardrop silhouette, with surfaces optimised to manage airflow. Air is channelled through sculpted ducts within the bodywork, entering at the front and exiting at the rear along carefully defined pathways. Xiaomi’s design language features throughout. Cross-shaped headlights are integrated into the bodywork, while a halo-style rear light forms part of a large air outlet. Surrounding it is an Active Wake Control System, using micro-perforations to actively manage turbulent air at the rear of the car based on speed and vehicle angle. The wheels also play a role in the aerodynamic package. Xiaomi says its “Accretion Rims” use vortex-shaped covers to reduce drag while drawing air through turbine fins to cool the brakes. A magnetic system allows the outer cover to remain stationary as the wheel rotates, creating what the company describes as a floating visual effect. According to Xiaomi, simulated testing shows the concept achieving a drag coefficient of 0.29, downforce of negative 1.2, and an aerodynamic efficiency rating of 4.1. The company says this reflects a focus on balance rather than extremes. Inside, Xiaomi has taken an unconventional approach to the hypercar cockpit. Instead of rigid bucket seating, the interior is built around what it calls the “Sofa Racer” concept, designed to combine performance with comfort. The dashboard, doors and seats form a continuous, ring-shaped structure that wraps around the driver. Materials include natural fabrics produced using a 3D knitting process adapted from sportswear, intended to offer both support and breathability. Central to the interior is Xiaomi Pulse, an AI-based assistant integrated into the dashboard. The system uses light and sound to communicate with the driver, drawing on data from sensors throughout the vehicle. Alongside it is Xiaomi HyperVision, an adaptive interface based on Xiaomi Hyper OS, which changes its display depending on driving conditions and mode. Xiaomi says the result is a cockpit designed to feel more like a living space than a traditional race car interior, offering drivers the choice between focused performance driving and a more relaxed experience. The Vision Gran Turismo concept will initially be available within the Gran Turismo motor racing video game, allowing players to experience Xiaomi’s vision of a future electric hypercar in the virtual world.
Keywords: feature,photo,video,xiaomi
PersonInImage: Xiaomi's Vision Grand Turismo.