A new era is dawning in the automotive world, marked by a furious race for speed and technological superiority among electric hypercars. This pursuit of excellence now has a new champion: the Chinese electric supercar Yangwang U9. It managed to set a new world record, reaching a staggering 472.41 km/h at the famous ATP (Automotive Testing Papenburg) proving ground in Germany.
This achievement isn't just another number; it's a powerful testament to the progress of the Chinese automotive industry, which is boldly challenging the established names in the high-speed vehicle segment. The previous speed record for production electric cars belonged to the Croatian hypercar Rimac Nevera R, which earlier this summer reached 431.45 km/h. The Rimac Nevera R, powered by four electric motors, has a maximum combined output of 2,107 hp, while the updated Yangwang U9 surpasses it significantly.
News of the record was officially confirmed by the global press office of BYD, the parent company of the luxury brand Yangwang. According to the information, the Yangwang U9, which is one of the company's most expensive and technically advanced models, has undergone a serious upgrade. Although the total combined output has not yet been officially announced, BYD confirmed that the new version of the supercar will exceed 3,000 hp. With four electric motors, each generating 555 kW, the total power reaches 2,220 kW, or 3,019 hp.
While the speed record is now a fact, the updated version of the Yangwang U9 has not yet been officially presented to the public. It first appeared in the electronic database of the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Commerce earlier this month. In comparison, the version of the Yangwang U9 that entered the Chinese market in February 2024 has a significantly lower output of 1,306 hp. During testing, this earlier version managed to reach a top speed of 391.94 km/h.
The technological foundation of the updated Yangwang U9
The technological foundation of the updated Yangwang U9 is the E4 platform, which uses a modern 1,200-volt electrical architecture. To ensure maximum traction and control, the car is equipped with active electro-hydraulic suspension. The high-speed semi-slick tires were specially developed by the Singaporean company Giti Tire. The version that participated in the record-breaking run is from the Track Edition series, which features advanced aerodynamics. The massive rear wing is notably absent, which was likely removed so as not to limit the car's high-speed potential.
After its triumph on the speed track, the Chinese supercar will head to a new challenge—to break the record on the legendary "Nürburgring-Nordschleife" track later this year.
Currently, the fastest production electric car at the "Nürburgring" is the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra sports sedan, with a lap time of 7:04.957 minutes. It's an interesting fact that last autumn, the Yangwang U9, albeit its older 1,306 hp version, completed a lap of the "Nordschleife" in 7:17.900 minutes. For unknown reasons, however, this achievement was not included in the track's official record table. This leaves open the question of whether the new, more powerful model will be able to write its name in the history of the "Green Hell".