New EV world record top speed for Yangwang U9

Packing output just shy of 3000hp (2237kW), China’s Yangwang U9 has come awfully close to topping 300mph (480km/h). In doing so, it smashed the top speed record for an electric car.

Clocking a best of just under 470km/h, the attempt took place was at the ATP test track in Germany. The new top speed for an EV surpasses the 436km/h previous best set by the Aspark Owl.

The run involved the top Track Edition variant of the Chinese supercar. It has four motors, each one good for 555kW. That’s 1260kW more than the standard U9 gets. The Track Edition can evidently run 0-100 in 2.36sec.

Yangwang reckons that the key to its record pace is the car’s independent torque-vectoring system. Each motor is adjusted up to 100 times per second to optimise grip and performance. 

The U9 was running on semi-slick tyres developed by Giti, optimised to reduce torque loss and wear. 

Autocar UK reports that German professional driver, Marc Basseng, was once again behind the wheel. He was helming at the initial attempt in 2024, when the U9 managed 388km/h.

Basseng commented: “Last year, I thought I’d peaked. I never expected to break my own record so soon. But here we are, at the same track, with new technologies that have made it possible.”

Yangwang is owned by BYD. It is the brand’s maker of tech-heavy, high-performance models. Yangwang currently offers the U9 and the beefy U8 SUV in China.

Plans are underway to export the brand to Europe, following the proposed launch of Denza early next year.

Evidently Yanwang has sold almost 150 of its U9 supercars in the past year.