BYD has been on a roll lately. Its expansion into more markets, including the Philippines, continues at a rapid pace, and we’re constantly seeing exciting new releases from the automaker.
But beyond its mainstream consumer vehicles, BYD also has a presence in the luxury automotive segment. Yangwang, one of its premium sub-brands, focuses on high-performance vehicles, including the hypercar that is making headlines today: the Yangwang U9 Xtreme.
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme didn’t just make some noise; it practically shook up the automotive industry. The hypercar is now recognized as the world’s fastest production car, having breached the 500 km/h barrier.
It achieved an astonishing top speed of 503.17 km/h during a test run in Abu Dhabi, a milestone recognized by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). You can watch the feat below:
The record-breaking run took place on November 1 at the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11) in the Al Dhafra region. Behind the wheel was German racing driver Marc Basseng.
For the test, Abu Dhabi authorities closed a 10-kilometer stretch of the E11, which included a 7-kilometer straight section dedicated to high-speed runs.
The entire attempt took two days. During its first run on October 31, the U9 Xtreme reached 490 km/h. Engineers then made several adjustments overnight, allowing the hypercar to push its top speed to 503.17 km/h on November 1.
What’s more, the U9 Xtreme also holds two Guinness World Records: the highest speed achieved by a production car in a single-direction run and the fastest speed achieved by an electric production car in a single-direction run.
For some context, the U9 Xtreme features a revised rear wing designed to generate more downforce, updated suspension software, and fine-tuned tire pressures to help it achieve its record-breaking speed.
Under the hood, or rather, beneath its bodywork, are four independently controlled electric motors, each producing 745 hp for a combined output of 2,977 hp. Production is limited to just 30 units worldwide.