The fastest car in the world?! Once upon a time, speed records were reserved for European gems with 12 or 16 cylinders, roaring exhausts and the price of a luxury yacht. Today, however, history is being written differently – quietly, electrically and from Shenzhen. The BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme reached 308.4 mph (496.22 km/h) at the famous ATP Papenburg oval in Germany, surpassing Bugatti's Chiron Super Sport 300+. It has officially become the fastest production car in the world, whether electric or petrol.
The fastest car in the world?! Base model BYD Yangwang U9 is already impressive with its 1,288 hp. But BYD engineers said: “Why not just double the power?” The result is U9 Xtreme with what 2,978 hp (2,176 kW) made of four electric motors that spin at up to 30,000 revolutions per minute. This is no longer a car, this is a mobile centrifuge.
It is also special 1,200-volt ultra-high voltage platform – a world first in a production car. In practice, this means faster delivery of electrical energy to the motors, less heating and higher battery cell density. BYD-'s system Blade Battery The 170 % has a higher energy density than a conventional 800-volt system, while also allowing for 10 times higher discharge rates. Translated into non-engineer language: huge power, immediately available, no explosions.
How the record fell – the fastest car in the world
An experienced racer was behind the wheel Marc Basseng, who previously tested the standard U9 at a “modest” 233 mph. This time, he had to keep the car on the track at almost twice that speed. The video shows the U9 Xtreme effortlessly pushing past 280 mph (450 km/h), then 292 mph (470 km/h), before reaching an almost unbelievable 308 mph. As the car began to dangerously approach the safety barrier, Basseng had to ease off the throttle and brake – but the milestone had already been achieved.
If it had a few more hundred meters of space, the U9 Xtreme could probably even exceed the magical 500 km/h mark.
The competition left in the rearview mirror – the fastest car in the world
With this achievement, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme surpassed all the legends of modern motoring:
- Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, which reached 304.77 mph (490.48 km/h) in 2019.
- Rimac Nevera R, a Croatian electric wonder that reigns supreme in acceleration but stops at around 268 mph (432 km/h).
- Aspark Owl, a Japanese exotic that was once the fastest EV at 272.6 mph (438.9 km/h).
It is important to add: BYD's record was measured in one direction, so the official FIA title still belongs to SSC Tuatari with a two-way average of 282.9 mph (455.3 km/h). But in the category of “fastest production car,” regardless of powertrain, BYD is now on top.
Not just a rocket in a straight line – the fastest car in the world
If anyone thinks the U9 Xtreme is just a lab experiment, they're wrong. BYD has confirmed that the hypercar is on Nürburgring Nordschleife reached the time 6:59.157 minutes, which is a new record for electric vehicles. The previous record holder, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, needed 7:04.957 for the same lap. So the Chinese have proven that their projectile can turn almost as well as it can fly straight.
Exclusive for 30 lucky people
BYD will only produce 30 copies of U9 Xtreme for global markets. The price has not yet been revealed, but it is clear that it will be significantly higher than the approximately £200,000 that the standard U9 costs. Buyers will not be buying just a car, but a piece of history - the first electric hypercar to beat Bugatti on its home turf: absolute speed.
Conclusion: The fastest car in the world
BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme It is more than just a car. It is a symbol of a shift in the automotive world, where China is no longer following, but leading. At record speed 496.22 km/h and with a time of under seven minutes at the Nürburgring, he proved that electric cars are no longer a "green compromise", but an absolute prestige.
The question is no longer whether electric cars will overtake gasoline legends. The only question is who will be the first to officially surpass them. 500 km/hAnd the answer will most likely come from the east.
