Yangwang U9 speed records keep on keeping on 

BYD’s luxury Yangwang division has unveiled the U9 Xtreme, a track-focused variant of its electric hypercar that has achieved a top speed of 496.22kph.

It has also completed a Nürburgring lap in 6 minutes 59.157 seconds. A few weeks ago, a U9 hit just under 480km/h, so it looks as though the 500km/h mark is in real jeopardy. Evidently the SSC Tuatara has actually done more than that (508km/h) but the attempt wasn’t officially verified.

The U9 Xtreme edition features enhanced aerodynamic components including a huge rear wing, a front splitter, and revised bodywork designed to maximise downforce and high-speed stability. There’s also a large rear diffuser for improved ground effect aeros. 

The vehicle features a new 1200-volt silicon carbide platform and four motors each producing 555kW for 2220kW of power in total. No change there then. Power to weight is 1200hp/tonne. The company plans on building only 30 examples of the U9 Xtreme for global markets.

Yangwang says the U9 Xtreme was developed with the specific objective of claiming two world records. Those would be the fastest production car ever, and the fastest production electric car around the Nurburgring.

It features Disus-X suspension, which combines pneumatic and air suspension technologies, as well as a proprietary antiroll bar technology.

There’s also increased damping bandwidth, and front and rear suspension arms are constructed from aviation-grade aluminium alloy. Titanium alloy brake calipers and carbon ceramic brake discs ensure braking performance is maintained even at extreme temperatures.

Naturally, it runs custom tyres produced to cope with speeds over 500km/h. They feature ultra-high-strength aramid fibre belts, increased silicon levels, and a double-layer water drainage groove system. There’s also a new non-thermoplastic formula that increases the friction coefficient by over 36 percent to improve grip and handling.

With its high speed record, the U9 Xtreme has edged out the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, the previous record holder for world’s fastest production car with a speed of 491km/h.

At the Green Hell, the speedy U9 has also now eclipsed the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Nurburgring Edition’s lap record. It raced around the 20.8km circuit in 7:04:957, but the U9 Xtreme subtracted five seconds from that, with a best time of 6:59:157.

The SU7 Ultra only has half the power of the U9 Xtreme, and a top speed limited to 350kph. So to be only five seconds adrift of the U9 X is impressive. 

The U9 Xtreme isn’t the quickest car around the Nurburgring, however. It remains 30 seconds adrift of the Mercedes-AMG ONE. The thinly disguised F1 car for the road holds the lap record with a time of 6:29:09. Electric cars are heavier and therefore not as quick through the corners.