Yangwang U9 Track Edition Sets A New EV Top Speed Record [video]

Yangwang is a name that may not be known to many petrolheads. However, the company is keen to change that, as the Yangwang U9 Track Edition sets a new EV top speed record. Yangwang is a subsidiary of Chinese brand BYD. The car, which is claimed to be standard as it will be sold to owners, sailed to a top speed of 472,41 km/h. That speed is significantly higher than the previous record of 431,45 km/h set by the Rimac Nevera R just a few weeks ago. The new record was set on 8 August at the Automotive Testing Papenburg (ATP) high-speed test track in Germany. ATP is one of the few places in the world where such speeds are attainable in a completely controlled environment.

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Most Powerful

The Yangwang U9 Track Edition is reportedly the most powerful car that will go on sale to the public. Although that date as has not yet been made clear. This ultra-high performance version of the U9 is still undergoing testing. The power output is a claimed 2 220 kW (over 3 000 hp). That output makes it far more powerful than any of the current hypercars on offer today. Power is derived from four 555 kW electric motors, one per wheel, that is controlled by torque-vectoring electronics with a 100 hz rate. The car also features specially developed semi-slick tyres and a bespoke aero package. In addition the completely variable suspension has racetrack-specific modes.

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The car accelerated at an eye-widening rate, as you can see in the video below, even if it did get a bit squirelly towards the end of the run. The record was set by German professional driver Marc Basseng, who was behind the wheel for the previous global EV speed record in 2024. After completing the high-speed test for Yangwang, he said, “Last year, I thought I’d peaked. I never expected to break my own record so soon — but here we are, at the same track, with new technologies that have made it possible.”