BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme: Electric hypercar breaks speed record
The fastest production vehicle is no longer the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, but the fully electric BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme with its 2220 kW.
The BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme on the test track.
(Image: BYD)
On Saturday, the electrically powered BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme hypercar set a new speed record for the world's fastest production vehicle at the Automative Testing Papenburg (ATP) automotive test site, dethroning the previous leader, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+. According to a company statement, the Chinese vehicle reached a top speed of 308.4 mph (approximately 496.3 km/h).
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme was driven during the record-breaking run by German racing driver Marc Basseng, who normally competes in the GT Masters series. Basseng managed to bring the hypercar, which is optimized for high speeds, up to a speed of approximately 496.3 km/h.
The car is powered by four electric motors, each with 555 kW, based on a 1200-volt silicon carbide platform. The total output is around 2220 kW. The standard version of the U9, on the other hand, only has an output of 960 kW. During the record-breaking run, the lithium-ion phosphate batteries used were continuously cooled by a special system to ensure that they could deliver sufficient power at all times.
Aerodynamics and customized tires
The record-breaking drive was made possible not only by sheer power but also by sophisticated aerodynamics. The hypercar was given an “aggressive” aerodynamic package for this purpose. In addition, the front track width was reduced. To ensure safe driving at high speeds, 20-inch wheels were used instead of the standard 21-inch wheels. Specifically, GitiSport eGTR2 Pro semi-slicks were used, which, according to the tire manufacturer, are designed for speeds of up to 310 mph, which is just above the maximum speed achieved. The motors of the individual wheels are controlled independently of each other to generate maximum grip.
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The BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme has thus equaled the previous record set by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ in 2019 on the test track in Ehra-Lessin, Lower Saxony, by British driver Andy Wallace. At that time, the Bugatti had reached a top speed of 304.77 mph (approximately 490.48 km/h). However, the vehicle was not fully electric but was powered by an 8.0-liter W16 combustion engine with four turbochargers, producing 1600 hp (1177 kW).
(olb)
