Yangwang U9 Xtreme: Record-Breaking
The electric Yangwang U9 Xtreme achieved 496.22 km/h on September 14, 2025 on the high-speed oval at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg in Lower Saxony – a new top speed for a production vehicle. The manufacturer BYD/Yangwang claims it is the fastest car in the world and points to the surpassed best mark of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ (490.484 km/h) from 2019. What lies behind the technology – and what is officially verifiable?
Quelle: Custom Rendering
Introduction
The electric Yangwang U9 Xtreme achieved on September 14, 2025 on the high-speed oval of the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg in Lower Saxony 496.22 km/h reached. This represents a new top speed for a production vehicle. The manufacturer BYD/Yangwang calls it the fastest car in the world and refers to the surpassed best mark of Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ (490.484 km/h) from 2019. This article examines the technical background and the official verifiability of the record.
Background
With the title fastest production car the aim is the highest measured final speed of a vehicle built in small or large series, not prototypes. In the record scene a two-way average (going and returning) is common to exclude wind and track slope. This is how earlier official records were recognized. The tests took place in Papenburg, a closed test facility with a high-speed oval. The U9 Xtreme is a particularly powerful variant of the electric U9 with a four-motor all-wheel-drive platform and 1,200-volt architecture. Many electric cars run without a multi-speed transmission, as their electric motors offer a broad usable speed and torque range. The overwhelming majority therefore use a single-gear transmission.
Current Status
On August 8, 2025, a U9 Track/Extreme variant initially posted a top value of 472,41 km/h in Papenburg on. On September 14, 2025 followed the 496,22-km/h-Fahrt des U9 Xtreme , driven by the German racing driver Marc Basseng. Media reports confirm date, place and driver. The vehicle uses four individual motors and a 1,200-volt high-power electronics. The street tires came as semislicks from a development program by Giti , whose prototypes were designed for 500 km/h. Yangwang additionally cites a Nordschleife time of 6:59.157 minutes. The Xtreme series is limited to a maximum of 30 units. For comparison: Bugatti's 490.484 km/h from 2019 were achieved in a one-way measurement at Ehra-Lessien.
Quelle: carbuzz.com
Analysis
Electric motors deliver their maximum torque almost immediately, which favors acceleration to very high speeds. There are also fewer mechanical losses in the drivetrain and a higher overall efficiency compared to internal combustion engines. The 1,200-volt architecture enables high motor speeds and sustained power. Active aerodynamics and four-motor torque-vectoring distribute load to stabilize the vehicle at over 300 mph. For BYD/Yangwang, the record is also brand-building: a Chinese manufacturer establishing a global brand in Germany, attracting high media attention.
Quelle: YouTube
Short interview with Marc Basseng about the record run; provides driving impressions and technical details firsthand.
Facts and Open Questions
The measured 496.22 km/h on September 14, 2025 in Papenburg, the U9 Xtreme variant and driver Marc Basseng are documented. It is also documented that the Bugatti Chiron's 2019 value was 490.484 km/h. The status of officially the fastest production car in the strict sense of a two-way measurement remains unclear. BYD/Yangwang and Bugatti published peak values from a single direction; the recognition in the scene typically requires the opposite-direction average. It is false or misleading to assume that EVs at 300+ km/h are quiet and that this generally facilitates concentration. At speeds above about 30–50 km/h, tire-road contact dominates the noise, regardless of propulsion.
Quelle: speedheads.de
Automotive magazines such as Top Gear and Car and Driver speak of a new production record and highlight the driver's role as well as the car's reserves; Basseng said he could have stayed on the gas for another 1.5 seconds. Other voices remind that the most rigorously tested records come from two-way measurements – as previously with Koenigsegg or SSC.
For the technology, the record shows that electric drives are not only strong in sprint but can also conquer absolute top speed domains — with a high-voltage system, thermal management and suitable tires. For interpretation, three points help: check whether the value was measured as a two-way average; whether an independent body (e.g., TÜV/SGS) was on board; and whether identical vehicle and tire specifications apply to the production. Those who want to dive deeper can find the technical platform information directly from the manufacturer.
Quelle: YouTube
Context: Bugatti's 300 mph run from 2019 – useful for comparing measurement methods and conditions.
Open questions remain: Will the 496.22 km/h value still be officially confirmed as a two-way average – and if so, by whom? A formally independent certification has not yet been published. How many of the maximum 30 U9 Xtreme will actually be built and delivered in identical specifications? Which tire approvals and aerodynamic setups apply for customers on restricted tracks – and with what maintenance intervals?
Conclusion
As a technical milestone, the U9 Xtreme is impressive: 496.22 km/h on a German test track, achieved through a high-voltage electric drive, four-motor torque-vectoring, aerodynamics and specially developed semislicks. For the label fastest production car in the world, the key question remains whether a two-way confirmation follows. Until then, the record shows one thing: electric cars have not only reached the absolute speed crown but are defining how it will be conquered in the future.