The BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme, an all-electric hypercar from China, has set a stunning new world record by reaching an officially confirmed 496.22 km/h (308.4 mph) on 14 September 2025 at the Papenburg test track in Lower Saxony, dethroning the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ and redefining what production cars can achieve — confirmed by BYD and, as reported by G.Business, cited by The WP Times.

From concept to production reality

Known internally as U9X, the model builds on the 2023 “Track/Special” edition and has been thoroughly re-engineered for production. The hypercar runs on a 1,200-volt ultra-high-voltage platform, an upgrade from the earlier 800-volt system. BYD’s signature Blade Battery, with a discharge rate of 30C, provides sustained power under extreme conditions. Four electric motors, each producing 555 kW, deliver a combined output of over 3,000 horsepower at up to 30,000 rpm.

Technical highlights

  • Battery: Lithium-iron-phosphate, actively cooled for constant output
  • Powertrain: Four individually controlled high-speed motors (555 kW each)
  • Chassis: Revised DiSus-X suspension tuned for circuit-level stress
  • Tyres: Semi-slick GitiSport eGTR2 Pro, certified for 310 mph
  • Aerodynamics: Reduced front track, aggressive aero kit, enhanced downforce

This combination proved decisive. While traditional hypercars like Bugatti rely on combustion and turbocharging, BYD’s U9X delivers silent, seamless acceleration with no load changes – a key factor exploited by German racing driver Marc Basseng, who piloted the car during the record attempt.

Voices from the team

“This is a milestone for electromobility and for BYD,” said Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD. “Yangwang is a brand that refuses to accept the impossible. The U9X proves that the future can be not only sustainable but also extreme.”

Driver Basseng echoed that sentiment: “Such speed would be technically impossible with a combustion engine. The electric powertrain delivers constant performance without vibration or gearshift delays – it allowed me to focus entirely on the track.”

Strictly limited exclusivity

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme will be produced in a limited run of just 30 units worldwide. With a price tag well above $1 million, the model is positioned not as a mainstream supercar but as a collector’s piece and a showcase of Chinese engineering. Its name, “Xtreme,” symbolises both “limit” and “the unknown,” aligning with the brand’s ethos of pushing boundaries and embracing exploration.

Europe remains on the sidelines

Although the record was set in Germany, the U9X will not be offered for sale in Europe for now. Even in China, availability is strictly limited. Industry insiders believe BYD views the U9X less as a commercial product and more as an image-defining project, designed to prove China’s capabilities in the hypercar arena. Should a European release ever come, it is expected to be restricted to exclusive allocations rather than open dealership sales.

For context: the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ achieved 490.48 km/h (304.77 mph) in 2019 at Ehra-Lessien, driven by Briton Andy Wallace. That feat depended on an 8.0-litre W16 quad-turbo engine producing 1,600 PS. BYD’s success demonstrates a profound shift – the fastest production car on Earth is now electric.

The Papenburg run was more than a technical victory. It signalled a geopolitical turning point: China, once dismissed as a newcomer, has entered the hypercar elite. Where Europe once ruled with combustion engines, an EV from Shenzhen has now claimed the crown – with zero emissions and almost 500 km/h of speed.

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