ABU DHABI: The Yangwang U9 Xtreme hypercar has set new global speed record in Abu Dhabi by surpassing 500kph.
Yangwang, the luxury brand of BYD, said the record-breaking run took place on Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11), in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Region, on Nov 1, 2026.
Marc Basseng, the sports-car and endurance racer who guided the U9X to its previous production-car record at ATP Papenburg last September, was again behind the wheel.
“The new highest speed achieved by the U9 Xtreme, 503.17kph, surpasses last year’s benchmark of 496.22kph, and secures two Guinness World Records for the 3019PS vehicle: Highest Speed achieved by a Production Car in a single-direction run, and Highest Speed achieved by an Electric Production Car in a single-direction run. The speed has also been duly recognised by the FIA, the governing body of world motorsport,” said Yangwang.
BYD executive vice-president Stella Li said, "I always tell people that our engineers are young, bold and maybe a little crazy – but in a good way! Even as the team celebrated the astonishing 496.22kph (308.22mph) in Germany last year, they were looking through the data and discussing how to take U9X to its next level."
In the case of the U9 Xtreme, engineers enhanced the motor specs at each corner of the vehicle to allow speeds of up to 30,000rpm (one of the car’s many world firsts) and increase the output to 755PS (555kW).
The techniques employed to achieve this include the use of the world’s thinnest super-silicon steel in mass production (0.1mm) on the stator, the key static component of any electric motor, 970MPa ultra-high-strength silicon steel in the rotor, and aerospace-grade aluminium in the motor housing.
The benchmark combined output of the four motors is over 3,000PS, more than double that of the existing U9.
This takes the power-to-weight ratio of the U9 Xtreme to an astonishing 1,217PS per tonne.
Beyond the raw power figures, the U9X's e4 Platform's quad-motor independent torque-vectoring system continuously monitors road feedback, adjusting each wheel’s torque at an ultra-high frequency that exceeds 100 times per second.
Even at high speeds, it maintains absolute control over body posture, ensuring no wheel slip or loss of traction.
Also, the U9 Xtreme is the first production model with a 1,200V ultra-high-speed platform, up from the 800V of the existing U9.
And the system can support up to 1,000A of current, improving efficiency and thermal management.
The U9X retains the core Blade Battery technology that has been at the heart of every BYD for more than four years.
To enhance tyre performance and durability under extreme driving conditions, Yangwang collaborated with Giti Tire to develop a track-focused semi-slick tyre.
The U9X is limited to just 30 units worldwide, and some customers have already approved their bespoke specifications.
