The Chinese Yangwang U9 Xtreme electric hypercar has achieved a jaw-dropping top speed of 496.22 km/h (308.4 mph) on a test track in Germany, claiming the title of “world’s fastest car.” This record completely debunks the myth that electric cars are slow. Here are the details.

BYD Yangwang U9 Extreme reaches 496.22 km/h

A few weeks ago, BYD announced that its nearly 3,000-horsepower, all-electric Yangwang U9 Track Edition model had set a new speed record for electric vehicles at 472.41 km/h. Following this success, the Yangwang team returned to the Automotive Test Papenburg (ATP) track in Germany with an even more ambitious goal. Their goal was no longer just to become the “world’s fastest EV,” but to claim the title of “world’s fastest production car.”

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And they succeeded. The Yangwang U9 Xtreme, driven by German GT racing driver Marc Basseng, reached a speed of 496.22 km/h, surpassing Bugatti’s 2019 record of 490.5 km/h. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ will now have to settle for the title of “the world’s fastest internal combustion engine production car.”

Driver Marc Basseng described his record attempt: “This record was made possible solely by the U9 Xtreme’s incredible performance. Technically, this is simply not possible with an internal combustion engine vehicle. Thanks to the electric motor, the car is silent and there are no load changes, allowing me to focus better on the track.”

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme utilizes BYD’s world-first mass-produced 1,200V ultra-high-voltage vehicle platform, developed by BYD. The car is powered by BYD’s latest lithium-ion phosphate batteries in a “blade” configuration.

The record-breaking U9 Xtreme version features smaller 20-inch wheels (21-inch standard) and wider 325mm tires (instead of 275mm at the front). The company has stated that only 30 units of this “Xtreme” version will be produced. These limited-edition vehicles are likely designed specifically for customers with very long driveways.