BYD’s luxury division, YANGWANG, has officially entered the 500+ km/h era. On November 1, 2026, the all-electric U9 Xtreme hypercar clocked a verified top speed of 503.17 km/h (312.65 mph) on a closed section of the E11 public highway in Abu Dhabi.
Driven by endurance racer Marc Basseng, the hypercar secured two Guinness World Records in a single-direction run, both recognised by the FIA:
- Highest Speed achieved by a Production Car
- Highest Speed achieved by an Electric Production Car
The record was set on a 10km closed stretch of the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11) in the Al Dhafra Region. Operating on a public road near a desert environment required exhaustive sweeping to clear rogue particles that could shred tires at hyper-speeds.
After hitting 490 km/h on October 31, engineers optimised battery thermal procedures overnight, adjusted the rear-wing angle for maximum rear-axle downforce, and recalibrated suspension rebound damping to handle subtle road undulations. The adjustments culminated in the 503.17 km/h pass the following day.
“This time, we took on an entirely different challenge — pushing the limits of speed on a public road in Abu Dhabi,” said the U9X’s record-breaking driver Marc Basseng.
“Unlike a dedicated test track, a public road presents a different set of challenges, making precision, stability and confidence in the vehicle more important than ever. Breaking a world record once is extraordinary but doing it again in such a different environment is truly special. At these extreme speeds every detail matters, and none of this would have been possible without the incredible YANGWANG engineering team. I am proud to be part of this journey and to demonstrate just how far electric vehicle technology can go.”
The Engineering
To surpass its previous 496.22 km/h benchmark, YANGWANG engineers fundamentally overhauled the U9’s electric architecture and powertrain:
- Quad-Motor Powertrain: The U9 Xtreme utilizes four independent motors capable of 30,000 rpm, each generating 755PS (555kW) for a combined output exceeding 3000PS. This yields a power-to-weight ratio of 1217PS per tonne.
- 1200V Architecture: Upgraded from the standard U9’s 800V system, the new 1200V ultra-high-speed platform supports up to 1000A of current. This architecture reduces heat generation by 67% at matched power outputs.
- Advanced Metallurgy: The motors feature 0.1mm super-silicon steel stators, 970MPa ultra-high-strength silicon steel rotors, and aerospace-grade aluminum housings to withstand extreme rotational forces.
- Next-Gen Blade Battery: Utilizing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, the battery achieves a 30C discharge rate—up to ten times that of a conventional EV. It sustains 1800kW of power output even at 20% state of charge and offers a peak energy-recuperation rate of 700kW.
- DiSus-X Suspension: Dual-valve electronic dampers deliver up to 50kN of active force within 120 milliseconds. The system actively suppresses pitch and dive, allowing the vehicle to corner with zero or negative roll while optimizing the tire contact patch.
- Giti Track Tires: Developed specifically for the U9 Xtreme, the semi-slick tires feature a knurled wheel-rim interface and high-viscosity lubricant to prevent the tire from slipping on the rim under immense torque loads.
“I always tell people that our engineers are young, bold and maybe a little crazy – but in a good way,” said Stella Li, BYD Executive Vice-President.
“And again, we must congratulate them and the whole YANGWANG U9X team for an incredible next step and these astonishing records. Even as the team celebrated the astonishing 496.22km/h in Germany last year, they were looking through the data and discussing how to take U9X to its next level. 503.17km/h is a fantastic achievement, and it moves the benchmark for pure electric power even further ahead of where others might dream.”
Ultra-Limited Production
The U9 Xtreme pairs straight-line dominance with cornering capability, having previously set a production EV lap record of 6m 59.157s at the Nürburgring Nordschleife using the exact same vehicle specification.
YANGWANG will produce only 30 units of the U9 Xtreme worldwide. The first production-spec model—featuring a bespoke micron-scale gold powder paint finish that mimics morning sunlight—is currently transitioning into production scheduling for early buyers.
