When an all-electric (EV) hypercar boasts an output of 3,019 hp (2,200 kW), like the upcoming BYD Yangwang U9 Track Edition does, you’d expect it to be fast. But just how fast is it truly? Well, how about a top speed of 472.40 km/h, which it achieved recently at the ATP Automotive Proving Grounds in Papenburg, Germany, setting a “new global electric vehicle speed record.”
But there’s a catch – because technically, the crown for the highest top speed ever achieved by an EV belongs to the Buckeye Bullet 3, a special land speed record vehicle that reached 549.4 km/h back in 2016. The more accurate term is perhaps “production electric vehicle speed record”, but we digress.
The BYD Yangwang U9 Track Edition’s incredulous 472.40 km/h top speed outpaces the Rimac Nevera R’s 431.45 km/h, which was set during its own attempt to break the 0-400-0 km/h record, later reclaimed by Koenigsegg in their ongoing rivalry.
This speed was achieved with the Yangwang U9 Track Edition’s powertrain dialled up to the max, with each of its four electric motors producing 754 hp (555 kW). For comparison, the normal Yangwang U9 pushes out a ‘paltry’ 1,305 hp. Against the Nevera R’s 2,107 hp and the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut’s 1,600 hp, the Track Edition is in a league of its own in terms of raw power.
The only modification done for the record run was the bespoke semi-slick tyres, engineered for a top speed of 500 km/h specifically for the attempt. Otherwise, the Yangwang U9 Track Edition is as per its actual production specifications, equipped with what BYD claims is the world’s first 1,200V architecture and has an 80 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, capable of a 450 km range (CLTC).
As regulatory filings revealed, it is also capable of supporting 500 kW DC fast charging, which allows a 30-80% recharge in just 10 minutes.
Keeping everything stable is BYD’s top-range DiSuS X intelligent body control system that allows the Yangwang U9 literally to jump over obstacles, dive on three wheels, and even dance.
With BYD having already secured the boasting rights for the Yangwang U9 Track Edition’s straight-line speed, could we see the 3,019 hp monster take the crown for the fastest production EV to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife?
For context, the standard BYD Yangwang U9 has already managed a Nürburgring lap time of around 7:17.900. To take the production EV crown, however, the Track Edition would need to beat the 7:04.957 time set recently by the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra.
With the Track Edition’s immense power and improved aerodynamics, a lap time deep into the six-minute zone is a thrilling possibility. For now, we will have to wait and see when BYD will unleash this monster on the Green Hell.
