BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme Sets New World Speed Record at Over 500 km/h

BYD (002594: SZ) has broken the global speed record for a production car, reaching 503.17 km/h.

The Chinese manufacturer’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme hypercar, piloted by German driver Marc Basseng, achieved the certified speed on a public road in Abu Dhabi, becoming the first production car in history to surpass the 500 km/h mark. The record has been officially recognized by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

A World-Record Breaking Attempt in Abu Dhabi

The record-setting run took place on November 1, 2026, on the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11) in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi. A 10-kilometer segment of the road was closed for the attempt, featuring a seven-kilometer straight section. The surface of the road was cleaned prior to the test due to its proximity to the desert and regular use by traffic.

This attempt not only broke the previous speed record but also established two new Guinness World Records: for the highest speed achieved by a production car and by a production electric car in a one-way run. The attempt was conducted over two days with the cooperation of local authorities and the FIA. The high-speed run propelled the vehicle beyond the 500 km/h barrier for the first time in history.

A Journey of Speed Records

The Yangwang U9’s quest for speed began in January 2024, when it reached 309 km/h on the Wuhan Hannan airport tarmac in China. Later that year, in October 2024, the vehicle accelerated to 391.94 km/h at the ATP Papenburg test facility in Germany.

In August 2025, the U9X version achieved a speed of 472.41 km/h at the same German track. The 503.17 km/h run in Abu Dhabi surpasses this, representing a 6.95 km/h increase. The vehicle’s performance on the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit is also noteworthy, where it set a record of 6 minutes and 59 seconds for an electric vehicle.

Technical Specifications Drive Yangwang U9 Xtreme Performance

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme’s extreme performance is attributed to its technical specifications. The vehicle is powered by four independent electric motors generating a combined output of over 3,000 horsepower. It utilizes a 1,200-volt electrical architecture and an advanced torque vectoring system that adjusts the power to each wheel more than 100 times per second. The 1,200-volt platform also plays a significant role in thermal management, reducing heat generation by up to 67% compared to an 800-volt system at the same power output. Pilot Marc Basseng, an experienced German sports car and endurance racing driver, has been at the helm for many of these record attempts.

He described the Abu Dhabi run as a unique challenge: De data aceasta, ne-am asumat o provocare complet diferită – împingerea limitelor de viteză pe un drum public din Abu Dhabi. Spre deosebire de o pistă de testare dedicată, un drum public prezintă un set diferit de provocări, ceea ce face ca precizia, stabilități și încrederea în vehicul să fie mai importante ca niciodată.

The car’s design is led by Wolfgang Egger, a German designer who previously worked for Alfa Romeo, Audi, and Lamborghini, reflecting a blend of European and Chinese engineering. Profit.ro

Photo: GSP

Yangwang U9 Xtreme Costs 3,000,000 Euros

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme is priced at approximately 3,000,000 euros. Alexandru Țiriac, son of Ion Țiriac, was impressed by the hypercar after a test drive, stating A trebuit să renunț la Aston pentru «micuțul» acesta, măcar pentru o zi… Timpul a fost factorul decisiv. M-a zguduit puțin, dar nu mi-a pierdut calmul. Licențiat să impresioneze.

The record-breaking attempt featured tires developed in collaboration with Giti Tire. It is important to note that the Abu Dhabi run was a one-way test. According to this criterion, the SSC Tuatara remains the fastest production car with a speed of 455 km/h, while the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ reached 490 km/h in a similar one-way run.

More on Yangwang

A new world record for the YANGWANG U9 Xtreme. 503.17km/h. YANGWANG U9 Xtreme has done the impossible, surpassing 500km/h to set a new world speed record in Abu Dhabi. The fastest production car on the planet just got faster.#YANGWANG #U9Xtreme #WorldRecord pic.twitter.com/lFtKAsEehE

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BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme breaches 500 km/h barrier to set new world record for production cars The Yangwang U9 Xtreme reached 503.17 km/h (312.66 miles per hour) in a top-speed challenge on public roads in Abu Dhabi. https://t.co/Ik6gfltrVZ 👇

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