Yangwang U9 Xtreme Sets Production Car Speed and Nürburgring Records

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme, the halo performance vehicle from BYD's luxury division, Yangwang, solidified its position as a technological benchmark in early 2026 following a series of record achievements late in 2025. The electric hypercar is fundamentally engineered around the DiSus-X intelligent suspension system, an innovation that enables unique dynamic capabilities, including independent wheel control that facilitates maneuvers such as hopping, rotation, and controlled 'dancing.' This advanced system is integral to the vehicle’s capacity to manage extreme track conditions and demonstrate its engineering capacity.

This track-focused variant, which debuted on September 14, 2025, officially claimed the title for the fastest production car globally after reaching a verified top speed of 496.22 km/h (308.33 mph) at Germany's ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg track, with German specialist Marc Basseng driving. This performance surpassed the prior benchmark of 490.484 km/h held by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+. Furthermore, the U9 Xtreme became the first production electric vehicle in its class to complete the Nürburgring Nordschleife in under seven minutes, posting a certified lap time of 6:59.157.

The record-setting Nürburgring lap was achieved on August 22, 2025, piloted by experienced German racing driver Moritz Kranz, who has completed nearly 10,000 laps on the demanding 20.832-kilometer circuit. The development leading to this time involved extensive testing on the Nordschleife beginning in July 2024, with data directly informing the Xtreme's final configuration. The vehicle utilized custom GitiSport e·GTR2 PRO tires, carbon-ceramic brakes, and a re-engineered cooling system, all precisely tuned in conjunction with the DiSus-X technology.

The immense performance is powered by a heavily modified powertrain built upon BYD's 1,200-volt ultra-high-voltage platform, making it the world's first series-production model featuring this architecture. The four high-performance electric motors deliver a combined output exceeding 3,000 PS (2,977 hp)—a significant increase over the standard U9’s 1,287 PS—and are supplied by a lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery rated for a high 30C discharge rate. The motors are capable of reaching 30,000 revolutions per minute, a first for production car motors.

The DiSus-X system represents a sophisticated evolution of BYD's active suspension family. The 'X' variant employs independent active force control at each wheel, capable of applying up to 9kW of bidirectional pressure per wheel with an adjustment rate exceeding 500mm per second, representing a 70% performance improvement over common low-voltage systems. This rapid adjustment effectively suppresses pitch and roll during dynamic driving, maximizing tire-to-road contact force and grip.

Structural engineering for the U9 Xtreme included the use of 3D-printed body components, such as the 'Printing HyperCell' structure, which integrates internal cavities for enhanced rigidity. This experimental manufacturing approach, led by Yang Feng, head of the Yangwang Research Institute, used a high-strength aluminum alloy derived from aerospace research, resulting in a torsional stiffness increase of over 200% compared to solid parts of equivalent weight. Global availability of this model is strictly limited, with production capped at 30 units worldwide. While the base Yangwang U9 is available in China, the Xtreme variant is scheduled for select international markets throughout 2026, including the confirmed debut of the Yangwang brand in the UAE.