503 km/h: the Yangwang U9 Xtreme pushes the limits after a spectacular crash!
- Published on 06/11/2026 17:26
The 500 km/h barrier has been broken. On November 1st, Marc Basseng propelled the Yangwang U9 Xtreme to 503.17 km/h on a closed section of the E11 highway in Abu Dhabi.
The electric hypercar from Yangang, the luxury brand of BYD, thus improves its previous record of 496.22 km/h, set in September 2025 in Papenburg, Germany.
According to BYD, this performance earns it two Guinness records: the fastest production car over a single direction passage, regardless of powertrain, and its electric equivalent. An important distinction: this peak does not correspond to an average measured in both directions to compensate for wind influence, among other factors.
This quest for speed also encountered a serious alert. Images released in early November show a crashed example during tests in China, its rear end torn off after colliding with a barrier. The driver reportedly emerged unharmed. While the exact date and speed of the crash remain uncertain, these images serve as a reminder of the stakes involved in such tests: a high mass amplifies the energy of the impact, while a damaged battery can cause a fire and a compromised high-voltage circuit presents an electrocution risk.
Single Direction Record
For the attempt in the Emirates, ten kilometers of road were neutralized, including seven in a straight line. After reaching 490 km/h on October 31, engineers adjusted the rear wing, suspensions, and tire pressure. The thermal preparation of the motors and battery was also optimized before the decisive runs the following day.
With four motors developing a combined 3,019 hp and a 1,200 V electrical architecture, the U9 Xtreme embodies the technological ambitions of the Chinese manufacturer. Its production will be limited to thirty units: a handful of cars to place BYD at the top of the speed race.
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This page is translated from the original post "503 km/h : la Yangwang U9 Xtreme repousse les limites après un crash spectaculaire !" in French.
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