BYD’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme reportedly reached a top speed of 503.17 km/h on a closed section of the E11 motorway in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Auto bloggers reporting the result on November 6 said the run made the electric supercar the first production vehicle to exceed 500 km/h.
The high-speed challenge began on November 1 and was announced by Hu Xiaoqing, general manager of the Yangwang Sales Division. Marc Basseng drove the car during the attempt. Although the run used a closed test section, it took place in a road environment rather than a professional proving ground, exposing the vehicle to high ambient temperatures, crosswinds and desert dust.
The 503.17 km/h result was 6.95 km/h above the U9 Xtreme’s previous benchmark of 496.22 km/h, recorded at the ATP Papenburg testing facility in Germany in September 2025. At the new reported speed, the car travels nearly 140 meters per second. The vehicle has also completed the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6 minutes and 59.157 seconds, becoming the first mass-produced electric supercar to run the circuit in under seven minutes.
BYD U9 Xtreme Reportedly Breaks Record at 503.17 km/h
The electric supercar improved its previous benchmark by 6.95 km/h, becoming the first production car officially beyond 500 km/h.
Gain marks the record run; neutral marks the prior benchmark, with heat, crosswinds and desert dust shaping the real-world road attempt.
The U9 Xtreme uses a 1200V high-voltage architecture and BYD’s quad-motor e4 platform. Its four electric motors can reach 30,000 rpm and deliver a combined 2,220 kW, or 2,977 hp. The car provides 1,200 hp per ton, while its torque-vectoring system makes adjustments up to 100 times per second.
BYD optimized the tires, brakes, cooling architecture and body-control systems for operation at very high speeds. Aerodynamic changes include a large carbon front splitter, rear diffuser, dual-channel hood and tall swan-neck rear spoiler. Global production of the Yangwang U9 Xtreme will be limited to no more than 30 units, according to the company.
Source: CarNewsChina.com
