Introduction
Yangwang, the luxury and high-performance offshoot of BYD, has set a new benchmark in the electric vehicle world with the U9 Track Edition. On August 8, 2025, the car achieved a record-breaking top speed of 472.41 KM/H (293.54 MPH) at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg track in Germany, shattering previous records and raising the bar for electric hypercars worldwide.
Powertrain & Performance
The U9 Track Edition features an advanced quad-motor e4 platform, with four electric motors capable of spinning up to 30,000 RPM. Each motor has a claimed peak output of 555 kW (about 755 HP), for a combined system output of roughly 3,000 HP and a staggering power-to-weight ratio of 1,217 HP/tonne. The car’s electric motors provide independent torque vectoring to each wheel, optimising traction at well over 100 adjustments per second.
Acceleration figures haven’t been officially disclosed for the Track Edition, but the standard Yangwang U9 covers 0–100 KM/H in 2.36 seconds. With the huge power increase and advanced grip, sub-2-second sprints are plausible.
Technical Features
The U9 Track Edition uses semi-slick Giti tires developed specifically for the high-speed attempt, with a unique compound and knurling treatment at the wheel-rim interface to prevent slippage under extreme acceleration. A carbon-fibre front splitter is fitted as an aerodynamic enhancement, along with a squared-off stance and track-oriented setup.
A highlight is the DiSus-X Intelligent Body Control System, allowing rapid, independent vertical adjustment at each suspension corner, maximising contact patch and grip even at extreme speeds and through uneven surfaces. The car also utilises a thermal-management setup capable of maintaining optimal performance for repeated runs under heavy load.
The Record Run
Piloted by race car driver Marc Basseng, the U9 Track Edition hit 472.41 KM/H in a single high-speed run, besting the previous electric top speed mark held by the Aspark OWL SP600 and Rimac Nevera R. The record was achieved under track-focused conditions, with race spec seats and cage, and certification protocols akin to those used for major production car attempts.
Comparison
- Previous record: Aspark OWL SP600, 438.7 KM/H; Rimac Nevera R, 431.45 KM/H.
- Power-to-weight: U9 Track Edition, 1,217 HP/ton; Rimac Nevera, 978 HP/ton.
- Most rivals remain far behind in both raw output and track-focused engineering.
Final Word
The Yangwang U9 Track Edition now claims the crown as the world’s fastest electric vehicle, boasting performance figures that eclipse recent hypercar efforts from Europe and Japan. Whether its full capabilities translate to road-legal production versions remains to be seen, but the technical achievement signals BYD’s ambitions at the summit of global EV performance.
