Yangwang announced its U9 Xtreme hypercar claimed the production car speed record after hitting 308.4 mph at Germany’s Automotive Testing Papenburg facility. The electric hypercar beat the previous record holder – Bugatti’s Chiron Super Sport 300+ which reached 304.9 mph in 2019.
The record run was completed by endurance racer and test driver Marc Basseng, who previously reached 233 mph in the standard U9 model in 2024.
“Something like this is not possible with a combustion engine. Thanks to the electric motor, the car is quiet, there are no load changes, and that allows me to focus even more on the track,” Basseng said.
Yangwang engineers modified the U9 Xtreme specifically for the record attempt. They fitted an upgraded aerodynamics package and reconfigured the car’s DiSus-X suspension system to handle speeds over 300 mph.
The team also worked with tire maker Giti to develop specialized track-focused semi-slick tires. The new tire technology prevents wheel slipping inside the tire under extreme power loads.
Technical Specifications
The U9 Xtreme generates 2,959 horsepower from its four-motor electric drivetrain. Each motor can operate at 30,000 rpm – significantly higher than traditional electric motors.
The hypercar runs on a 1,200-volt electrical architecture, making it the first production EV to use this voltage level. For comparison, the standard U9 uses an 800-volt system.
As a luxury subsidiary of BYD, Yangwang equips the U9X with a lithium-ion battery pack using BYD’s blade battery configuration. This design provides both high energy density and improved safety characteristics.
The record puts the Yangwang ahead of other electric hypercars including the Aspark Owl at 272.6 mph and the Rimac Nevera R at 268.2 mph.
Production and Availability
Yangwang confirmed it will produce only 30 U9 Xtreme models worldwide. The company hasn’t announced whether any units will be sold in the UK market.
Pricing for the Xtreme variant hasn’t been disclosed. The standard U9 starts at approximately £175,000 in China.
The record represents a significant milestone for Chinese automotive manufacturing and electric vehicle performance capabilities.
