JAKARTA – Not long after breaking the electric car speed record, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme has now been surprisingly crowned the world's fastest car, beating the record previously held by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ prototype.
At the ATP Papenburg test track in Germany, this powerful electric car from the BYD sub-brand recorded a top speed of 496.22 km/h thanks to the skill of German professional racing driver Marc Basseng, surpassing the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+'s 2019 record of 490.48 km/h.
However, like the Bugatti, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme used for this record-breaking event is a prototype, not a production version. With production planned to be limited to only 30 units for the global market, it remains to be seen whether the final production model will be able to match the prototype's performance.
FASTEST CAR ON THE PLANET
The YANGWANG U9 Xtreme shattered the production-car speed record with a breathtaking run of 492.22 km/h at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg.
Watch the full VBOX top-speed run now. pic.twitter.com/Z7aApyfjoS
— BYD (@BYDCompany) September 21, 2025
According to CarNewsChina and CarBuzz, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme's extreme speed is supported by equally extreme technology. It's powered by four electric motors, producing a total of 2,977 hp, nearly three times the 1,288 hp of the standard Yangwang U9. This power is delivered through the world's first 1,200-volt electrical architecture, a significant leap from the common 800-volt standard. This system allows BYD's Blade battery to increase its power density by up to 170 percent, ensuring the car can deliver the massive energy needed to break the record.
Beyond the straights, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme also tested its capabilities on the legendary Nürburgring circuit. The car managed to record a lap time of 6 minutes 59.157 seconds, an impressive achievement. However, in this particular test, the Yangwang U9 lost out to the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype, which clocked a time of 6:22.091. BYD also made some mechanical adjustments, including using 20-inch GitiSport e·Gtr2 Pro semi-slick tires specifically made for this record, instead of the Michelin tires often relied upon by other manufacturers.
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