On the evening of September 20, BYD’s high-end new energy brand, Yangwang, officially launched the all-electric supercar, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme, which will be sold globally in a limited edition of 30 units. The new model is an upgrade of the Yangwang U9, with “Xtreme” in its name derived from the word “Extreme,” where “X” represents the unknown and boundaries. The official statement says that the new car is the purest expression of Yangwang’s pursuit of “ultimate speed,” created to challenge the limits of automotive performance, with the goal of achieving both the highest top speed and lap time for electric vehicles globally.
As an upgraded version of the Yangwang U9, the new car features a more efficient aerodynamic package and is equipped with a more powerful motor, with a total output of 2220 kW. In terms of exterior design, the U9 Xtreme has a larger front lip spoiler, side endplates that bend downward, and a dual-pass design for the front hood. The headlights are outlined with a semi-surround LED daytime running light design, giving the car an intense visual impact.
On the side, the new car adopts a typical supercar design, with bulging front fenders and a waistline that extends to the rear, forming a flowing shape along with the rear wheel arches. Additionally, the new car comes standard with a carbon fiber roof, 20-inch double five-spoke wheels, and 325/35 ZR20 (112Y) tires on all four wheels. It offers a carbon fiber package, an optional electric rear spoiler, and titanium alloy brake calipers. In terms of dimensions, after the addition of a large carbon fiber goose-neck rear spoiler and a carbon fiber front splitter, the car measures 4991/2029/1351 mm in length, width, and height, with a wheelbase of 2900 mm. The rear of the car features a two-part tail light design, with the Yangwang logo embedded in the center. The rear bumper is equipped with a large dual-layer diffuser to increase downforce.
Inside, the car features extensive carbon fiber decorations and suede trim, creating a strong sense of sportiness. The new car is equipped with a full LCD instrument panel, a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, and a classic T-shaped center console. The vertically arranged center panel features a multimedia touch screen and rotary buttons.
In terms of power, the car uses a 1200V ultra-high-voltage platform with silicon carbide power modules, adopting a four-wheel, four-motor layout. Each motor has a maximum power output of 555 kW, with a system total power of 2220 kW. The new car also features a new track-level blade battery, which uses a lithium iron phosphate battery pack. The chassis is equipped with the Yi Si Fang + Yun Nian-X intelligent full-active body control technology. For reference, the standard Yangwang U9 has a maximum power of 240 kW per motor, with a total output of 960 kW.
According to the official release, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme has broken both the top speed and Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time records. It set a new top speed record at the ATP test track in Germany, reaching 496.22 km/h, making it the fastest production car globally. It also completed a new lap time of 6:59.157 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, surpassing the production version of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. Previously, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra set a Nürburgring lap time of 7 minutes 4.954 seconds, breaking the record for the fastest production electric vehicle, surpassing Porsche and Tesla.
Based on its performance, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme is considered the most powerful production electric car in the world, with no direct competitors in the market. According to CCTV News, the U9 Xtreme became the first pure electric production car to break the 7-minute barrier at the Nürburgring track, and it has been certified by ATP in Germany for a top speed of 496.22 km/h, making it the fastest production car globally.
Yangwang Auto is BYD’s highest-priced new energy brand, targeting the high-end electric vehicle market. It currently offers the Yangwang U9 (priced at ¥1.68 million), Yangwang U8 (¥1.098 million), Yangwang U7 (¥628,000-¥708,000), and Yangwang U8L (starting at ¥1.28 million). The Yangwang U9, launched in February 2024, is a pure electric supercar, powered by the Yi Si Fang platform and Yun Nian-X chassis, with a total peak power of 960 kW from four motors and a peak torque of 1680 Nm. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 2 seconds. As a high-priced brand, Yangwang cars are not expected to contribute significantly to BYD’s market share. According to retail data, in the first eight months of this year, Yangwang U8 sales reached 887 units, Yangwang U7 sales were 745 units, and Yangwang U9 sales totaled 86 units.
