4 Minutes
BYD's Yangwang U9 Xtreme smashes electric lap record
BYD's ultra-limited Yangwang U9 Xtreme has made headlines by becoming the first production battery-electric vehicle to crack the 7-minute barrier at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Piloted by veteran German racer Moritz Kranz, who brings nearly 10,000 Green Hell laps of experience, the U9 Xtreme completed the 20.8 km circuit in 6 minutes and 59 seconds — edging out Xiaomi's SU7 Ultra, which posted a 7:04 earlier in the year.
Why this matters
This isn’t just another lap time. It signals how quickly Chinese automakers and their suppliers are closing the performance gap with established hypercar builders. The U9 Xtreme is a purpose-built, zero-emission coupe that blends extreme power with advanced chassis control, and the result is a production EV that outpaces many internal-combustion hypercars on the Nordschleife.
Performance and drivetrain: numbers that stun
Underneath its sculpted body, the U9 Xtreme runs a 1,200-volt electrical architecture with four electric motors, each capable of spinning up to 30,000 rpm. The combined output tops 3,000 metric horsepower (about 2,959 mechanical hp in U.S. terms). BYD quotes a blistering 0-100 km/h time of 2.36 seconds and a standing 400 m in 9.78 seconds, while the official CLTC range is 450 km (about 280 miles) from its 80 kWh battery.
- Architecture: 1,200-volt system
- Motors: Quad-motor setup — >3,000 PS combined
- Battery: 80 kWh, CLTC range 450 km
- Acceleration: 0–100 km/h in 2.36 s
- Quarter-mile: 9.78 s
Top speed testing and the tyre limit
Beyond track laps, BYD and partners pushed the U9 Xtreme to extreme top speeds. During high-speed tests at Germany’s ATP facility, the car reached 496.22 km/h (308.33 mph). BYD later reported controlled indoor tests up to 500 km/h (311 mph) in June 2025, suggesting the car has even higher potential — but is ultimately constrained by available tire technology.
Chassis, brakes and cooling: engineered for extremes
The U9 Xtreme uses a sophisticated platform with an intelligent body-attitude control system, a revised cooling architecture, and a titanium-alloy carbon-ceramic braking package. GitiSport e.GTR2 Pro semi-slick tires provided grip for both the Nürburgring lap and the top-speed runs. Giti — a Singapore-based tire maker — worked closely with BYD, highlighting how supplier collaboration is key in the EV performance race.
"First production BEV to dip below seven minutes at the Nürburgring" — a milestone for EV performance.
Limited production and market positioning
Unlike Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra, which is a high-performance sedan, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme is a limited-run hypercar with just 30 units planned. Originally priced at 1.68 million yuan, BYD increased the price to 1.8 million yuan (roughly $253,000 at current rates). For that sum you get not only cutting-edge EV powertrain technology but also six years of warranty and a suite of services — a value proposition aimed at wealthy enthusiasts who want exclusivity and track capability.
In the broader market, the U9 Xtreme highlights a shift: Chinese automakers are fast becoming credible contenders in the ultra-high-performance EV segment, pairing massive power figures with focused engineering. For collectors and performance buyers, the limited availability and advanced tech could make the U9 Xtreme a sought-after addition to any garage.
Quick highlights
- Nürburgring Nordschleife lap: 6:59 (first production EV sub-7:00)
- Peak output: >3,000 PS (≈2,959 hp)
- Top tested speed: up to 500 km/h (indoor test)
- Production run: 30 units
- Price: 1.8 million yuan (~$253,000)
For enthusiasts tracking electric hypercars, the U9 Xtreme is a landmark: a blend of insane power, advanced systems, and strategic partnerships that underline how rapidly EV performance is evolving. Whether its Nürburgring record stands for long will depend on rival makers, tire technology, and the next wave of battery and motor innovation.
Source: autoevolution
Comments
turbo_mk
No way, 6:59? Thats wild. Chinese EVs leveling up fast, but 500 km/h indoors... tires gonna be the real limiter, hmm
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