Yangwang U9 Xtreme beats Bugatti Chiron to become world's fastest car, clocks 496kmph

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme boasts a combined output of over 3,000PS from four motors.

BYD's luxury sub-brand Yangwang has set a new world record for the fastest production car. Its latest hypercar, the U9 Xtreme, has hit a top speed of 308.4mph (496.22kmph) at the ATP test track in Papenburg, Germany.

With its run on September 14, the U9 Xtreme went past the earlier record of 304.1mph (489.4kmph) held by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+. It also beat Yangwang's own earlier electric vehicle (EV) speed mark, making it the fastest car in the world, electric or petrol.

The U9 Xtreme, also called the U9X, is based on the regular U9 already on sale in China. But this car gets heavy upgrades to handle such extreme speeds. It runs on a 1,200V high-voltage system (instead of the usual 800V) and uses BYD's well-known blade battery with a discharge rate of 30C. Power comes from four electric motors, each capable of spinning up to 30,000rpm. Combined output is more than 3,000PS.

To stay in control at such high speeds, the U9X uses semi-slick tyres specially made for the track and a tweaked version of Yangwang's DiSus-X suspension system. Aerodynamics and chassis balance have also been reworked so that the car remains stable even beyond 300mph.

Yangwang will build only 30 units of the U9 Xtreme worldwide, making it a very exclusive model. The name Xtreme highlights its focus on pushing limits, while the X stands for the unknown, showing the brand's intent to go beyond what has been achieved so far.

In terms of rivals, the U9X now sits above some of the most talked-about hyper EVs in the world. The Rimac Nevera had earlier set records for acceleration and top speed (258mph or 415kmph), while the Lotus Evija claims over 2,000PS but has not touched the 300mph mark. Even the upcoming Tesla Roadster has promised extreme numbers, though it is yet to hit production. On the combustion side, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ remains the closest competitor, but its 304.1 mph figure has now been beaten.