The Chinese electric car Yangwang U9 Xtreme has almost reached 500 km/h

• Yangwang U9 Xtreme reached 496.22 km/h
• The test was conducted by Mark Bassen on the ATP Papenburg track
• The car is available only in China, with 30 units produced
• A bi-directional run is required for an official record

Chinese automaker BYD introduced the hypercar Yangwang U9 Xtreme, capable of reaching nearly 500 km/h. On June 28, German driver Mark Bassen tested the car on the high-speed oval track ATP Papenburg, recording a maximum speed of 496.22 km/h.

BYD characterized the achievement as a record among production electric vehicles. According to international standards, a 'production' car must be intended for personal use, available for sale, permitted for road use, and supplied in more than one country.

In reality, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme is currently only sold in China, and only 30 units have been produced. The car used in the test was modified beforehand, although it was almost indistinguishable from the base model, which also raises questions about compliance with the mass production criterion.

Moreover, the record attempt did not meet the requirement for a bi-directional run. For the speed to be officially recognized, the car must have completed the measured segment at maximum speed in both directions, which was not the case here.

Technical Specifications

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme is equipped with four electric motors with a total power of over 3000 hp, weighs 2480 kg, and is fitted with GitiSport e·GTR2 PRO racing tires, specially designed for extreme loads.

It is worth noting that earlier, LEGO, in collaboration with Swedish manufacturer Koenigsegg, created a full-size replica of the hypercar Sadair’s Spear, which has 1625 hp. Koenigsegg test driver Markus Lund, driving this model, reached a speed of 111 km/h, which more than doubled the previous record for large-scale LEGO Technic sets.

The event highlights the growing interest in electric vehicles in the hypercar segment and showcases the technical capabilities of Chinese manufacturers. Although there is no official record yet, the test results confirm the potential of electric powertrains in the race for speed limits.

Source: UNIAN