BYD’s luxury arm just proved that electric hypercars aren’t playing around anymore. The YANGWANG U9 Xtreme hit 308.4 mph at Germany’s ATP Papenburg track, officially dethroning the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport and becoming the fastest production car on the planet. Period. Not just among EVs — among everything with four wheels and a license plate.
This isn’t some pie-in-the-sky concept either. YANGWANG, which launched in 2023 as BYD’s ultra-luxury division, has been steadily building credibility in the hypercar space. The brand’s name translates to “look up” in Chinese, and after this achievement, that’s exactly what the automotive world is doing.
Pure Electric Brutality
The U9 Xtreme (formerly known as the Track Edition) takes the standard U9’s already impressive architecture and cranks everything to eleven. We’re talking about a 1200-volt electrical system — a significant jump from the regular U9’s 800-volt setup — feeding four individual motors that spin at up to 30,000 rpm. As a result, over 3,000hp gets distributed across all four wheels via BYD’s proprietary e⁴ individual wheel drive technology.
German racing driver Marc Basseng, who piloted the record run, noted how the electric setup allowed him to focus entirely on the track rather than managing engine load changes. That kind of consistent power delivery is impossible with internal combustion.
Engineering for Extremes
Hitting 308mph requires more than just brute force. YANGWANG fitted the U9 Xtreme with semi-slick track tires, revised DiSus-X suspension tuning, and switched from 21-inch to 20-inch wheels with a narrower front track. The lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery can discharge at an impressive 30C rate, feeding those hungry motors without thermal meltdown.
The engineering challenge here is immense. At top speed, those tires are rotating over 4,000 times per minute while generating tremendous heat. The fact that the car maintained stability and power delivery throughout the run speaks to the sophisticated thermal management and aerodynamic work YANGWANG put into this project.
Limited Edition Reality
Here’s the catch—only 30 units of the U9 Xtreme will ever exist. It’s barely a production car by traditional standards, but it counts. The “Xtreme” designation emphasizes the “X” representing the unknown, which fits YANGWANG’s exploration-focused brand ethos perfectly.
Spec Sheet
Model: YANGWANG U9 Xtreme (U9X)
Power: 3,000+ horsepower (four electric motors)
Top Speed: 308.4mph
Electrical System: 1200V architecture
Motor Speed: Up to 30,000 rpm
Battery: Lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery (30C discharge rate)
Production: Limited to 30 units
Record Set: September 14, 2025, ATP Papenburg, Germany
Pricing & Availability
YANGWANG hasn’t made pricing available yet, but expect the U9 Xtreme to command a hefty price tag, possibly into seven-figure territory.
Recap
Yangwang U9 Xtreme Record Breaking Speed
The YANGWANG U9 Xtreme, BYD’s ultra-luxury electric hypercar, just became the world’s fastest production car by hitting 308.4 mph at Germany’s ATP Papenberg track, officially dethroning the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport.
