BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme sets 503.17 km/h production car speed record

The track-focused electric hypercar BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme reached a speed of 503.17 km/h (312.66 mph) on November 1 on a closed highway in Abu Dhabi, electrek.co reports electrek.coelectrek.coelectrek.coOpen source ↗. According to the manufacturer, the vehicle became the first production car to exceed 500 km/h, with the attempt officially recognized by the FIA and Guinness World Records. The record-setting run was conducted on a 10 km closed section of the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11), which provided a 7 km straight section for the test electrek.coelectrek.coelectrek.coOpen source ↗. German racing driver Marc Basseng was behind the wheel during the run.

Powertrain and battery architecture

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme features four electric motors, each rated at 555 kW and spinning at up to 30,000 rpm, delivering a combined output of 2,220 kW (over 3,000 PS) electrek.coelectrek.coelectrek.coOpen source ↗. The system operates on a 1,200-volt electrical architecture and utilizes a specialized track-grade version of BYD's Blade Battery based on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry electrek.coelectrek.coelectrek.coOpen source ↗. The run also utilized bespoke semi-slick tires engineered in collaboration with Giti Tire electrek.coelectrek.coelectrek.coOpen source ↗.

Record parameters and testing conditions

The record was established over a two-day testing program electrek.coelectrek.coelectrek.coOpen source ↗. During the first day, the vehicle reached 490 km/h; subsequent overnight modifications to the rear wing aerodynamics, shock absorber damping, and tire pressures allowed Basseng to achieve 503.17 km/h on the following day electrek.coelectrek.coelectrek.coOpen source ↗. The attempt surpassed the model's previous record of 496.22 km/h, which was recorded in September 2025 at the ATP Papenburg proving ground in Germany electrek.coelectrek.coelectrek.coOpen source ↗.

Guinness World Records logged the result as a single-direction top-speed achievement for a production car and an electric production car electrek.coelectrek.coelectrek.coOpen source ↗. Traditional production car benchmarks require averaging two runs in opposing directions to account for gradient and wind effects electrek.coelectrek.coelectrek.coOpen source ↗. BYD plans to manufacture a limited production series of 30 units priced at approximately $3 million each electrek.coelectrek.coelectrek.coOpen source ↗.