BYD’s luxury performance brand, Yangwang, has officially shattered production car velocity boundaries. The Yangwang U9 Xtreme (U9X) has achieved a jaw-dropping top speed of 503.17 km/h (312.66 mph), establishing itself as the fastest production vehicle on earth.
The record-breaking run took place on November 1 on a closed section of the E11 highway in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The hypercar was piloted by professional racing driver Marc Basseng—the same driver who previously drove the U9X to a production car speed record of 496.22 km/h (308.34 mph) in September at the ATP testing facility in Papenburg, Germany. The newly minted 503.17 km/h (312.66 mph) milestone has been officially certified by both the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Guinness World Records.
Following its previous success in Germany, engineering telemetry indicated that the powertrain, thermal management systems, and tires still possessed considerable performance headroom, prompting the team to push for even higher velocities. Unlike the closed German test track used last year, this record-breaking run was executed on a public highway environment.
Guinness World Records officially validated and certified four separate categories for the vehicle and its tires: the Yangwang U9 Xtreme as the World’s Fastest Electric Vehicle and the World’s Fastest Road Car, alongside the GitiSport e·GTR² PRO tires by Giti—fitted specifically to the U9X—as the World’s Fastest Electric Vehicle Tire and World’s Fastest Road Car Tire.
The U9X’s blistering performance is powered by the Yi-Sifang (e⁴) platform, the world’s first four-motor architecture driven by high-performance electric motors capable of hitting 30,000 RPM. Each individual motor generates a peak output of 555 kW, combining to deliver a staggering system output exceeding 3,000 horsepower and an exceptional power-to-weight ratio of 1,217 PS/t. The motors utilize aerospace-grade aluminum housings, high-speed bearings, 970 MPa high-strength rotors, and 0.1mm ultra-thin silicon steel laminations.
Handling the dynamic demands is the upgraded Disus-X (Yunnia-X) intelligent body control system, featuring a high-voltage oil pump operating at 1,200V alongside significantly expanded damper bandwidth for precise attitude control at extreme speeds.
To withstand aerodynamic forces, the U9X utilizes a 3D-printed integrated lightweight body structure coupled with a carbon fiber monocoque cabin to optimize rigidity, protect the driver, and maintain a low center of gravity. Production of the Yangwang U9 Xtreme is strictly limited to 30 units globally, with initial customer bespoke configurations already finalized and production scheduling underway.
