BYD Unveils Fastest Car in the World

YANGWANG, the luxury sub-brand of BYD, set a new global production-car top-speed record of 496.22 km/h at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg track on September 14, 2025. The record was achieved with the U9 Xtreme hypercar, surpassing the previous EV benchmark and the fastest petrol-powered model, which reached 490.484 km/h.

Technical Highlights

The U9 Xtreme (U9X) builds on the technical architecture of the standard U9 sold in China, featuring several upgrades:

• 1200V ultra-high-voltage electrics (up from 800V)
• Lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery with a 30C discharge rate
• Four ultra-high-speed motors producing over 3000PS and operating at up to 30,000 rpm
• Track-level semi-slick tires
• Revised DiSus-X suspension tuned for high-speed circuit driving

These enhancements enable the U9X to combine extreme performance with zero emissions, establishing a new standard for electric hypercars.

Marc Basseng, a German track specialist with extensive experience in sports-car racing and endurance motorsport, piloted the record run. Basseng stated that the electric drivetrain’s consistent power delivery and lack of load changes allowed him to focus entirely on the track, contributing to the record performance.

BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li praised the R&D team for their efforts, noting the U9X represents YANGWANG’s commitment to innovation and redefining what is possible in automotive engineering.

The U9 Xtreme will be offered in a limited production run of 30 units. Its name reflects the concept of the “extreme” and the “unknown,” in line with YANGWANG’s philosophy of innovation and exploration.