3,000 HP BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme is world's fastest production car
BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme achieves 496.22 km/h top speed
BYD has achieved yet another milestone after the company became the title holder for having the world's fastest production car.
This comes after BYD and its sub-brand Yangwang set a new global production top speed record of 496.22 km/h at the Automotive Testing Papenburg test track in Germany. The feat was achieved with the Yangwang U9 Xtreme EV hypercar last September 14, 2025. With it, the U9 Xtreme was able to surpass the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+'s record of 490.5 km/h.
The hyper EV comes with the same existing technical architecture of the original U9 but has been thoroughly upgraded to achieve high speeds with little to no effort. These include 1200V ultra high-voltage electrics, a high-capacity lithium-iron phosphate battery with a discharge rate of 30C, and four ultra high-speed electric motors that spin up to 30,000 RPM, which translates to a total system output of over 3,000 PS.
Combined with track-level semi-slick GitiSport eGtr2 Pro tires, 20-inch dual five-spoke alloy wheels, a revised DiSus-X suspension, and titanium brake calipers with upgraded carbon-ceramic discs, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme can reach lightning-quick speeds as well as slow down without a hitch. Heck, the hyper EV was also to set a record lap time at the Nurburgring of 6:59.157, beating the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra's 7:04.957 production EV record in the Green Hell.
“This is an incredibly proud moment for everyone in the research and development division. Yangwang is a brand that does not recognize the impossible, and only through this commitment to what’s coming next can you end up with a vehicle like the U9X. I extend my gratitude to the whole team, and my thanks to the driver, Marc Basseng, for his skill and technical input. It’s terrific that the fastest production car in the world is now electric,” said Stella Li, BYD Executive vice president.
The driver who made it possible was Marc Basseng, a German track specialist with a long history of piloting sports cars and joining endurance races. He shared that the record was made possible thanks to the hyper EV's incredible performance.
“This record was only possible because the U9 Xtreme simply has incredible performance. Technically, something like this is not possible with a combustion engine. Thanks to the electric motor, the car is quiet, there are no load changes, and that allows me to focus even more on the track,” shared Basseng.
If you thought the Yangwang U9 Xtreme was simply just a one-off, BYD shared that it will be made available to customers via a limited series production. In fact, no more than 30 units of the hyper EV will be made, which means only a select handful of customers will be able to get their hands on the 3,000+ PS Yangwang U9 Xtreme.
