BYD's super sports car has exceeded expectations. Chinese sources report that the Yangwang U9 unveiled in early 2024 made a more than promising debut in track tests, reaching an impressive top speed of 375.12 km/h (233 mph).
This is a remarkable improvement on the 309 km/h (192 mph) announced by the manufacturer at the time of its launch.
Warming up for the Nürburgring?
A video posted on X by cinse market analyst ThinkerCar confirms the record set by the U9. The lap was completed with an air temperature of 25°C and a humidity level of 57%.
In fact, the track tests may just have been a 'warm-up' for something bigger. Indeed, two U9s were recently spotted at the Nürburgring, so it's likely that BYD is aiming for a record on the Green Hell, which could be officially announced in the coming weeks.
As a reminder, the U9 has to beat the time of 7:05 set by the Rimac Nevera to win the title of fastest electric car on the German circuit.
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Its secrets
Record or not, the Yangwang U9 has some truly incredible features. The most extreme creature ever produced (so far) by BYD is equipped with a powertrain consisting of four electric motors (one per wheel) of 326 PS each, for a total of 1,305 PS and 1,680 Nm.
YangWang U9
Capable of accelerating from 0 to 62 mph in 2.36 seconds, the U9 is equipped with an 80 kWh battery giving it a range of 280 miles according to the Chinese CLTC cycle. Furthermore, its 800-volt architecture means it can be recharged very quickly, from 30% to 80% in just 10 minutes.
The first examples will be arriving at Chinese dealerships in the next few weeks, with a starting price of around €140,000 (approx. £120,000). For the time being, there are no plans to bring them to Europe.
Gallery: YangWang U9
Source: TheDriven.io