The BYD YANGWANG U9 Track Edition sets EV top speed record

YANGWANG, BYD’s premium sub-brand, has set a new world record for the fastest electric vehicle, reaching 472.41 km/h with its U9 Track Edition supercar at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg track in Germany on August 8, 2025.

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The U9 Track Edition builds on the same e4 Platform and DiSus-X core technical architecture as the production YANGWANG U9 sold in China. It introduces the first mass-produced 1200V ultra-high-voltage vehicle platform, paired with an advanced thermal management system designed for extreme conditions. This not only guarantees high output and performance, but also fast charging times.

Power comes from the e4 Platform’s quad-motor setup, with each motor producing 555 kW, resulting in a combined output exceeding 3,000 PS. With a power-to-weight ratio of 1,217 PS per tonne, the U9 Track Edition ranks among the most powerful cars globally. The system’s torque-vectoring capability adjusts wheel torque more than 100 times per second, maintaining stability and preventing traction loss even at high speeds.

The DiSus-X Intelligent Body Control System further enhances control by making rapid, independent suspension adjustments at each wheel. This reduces pitch and roll, improves comfort, and maximises tyre contact with the road, ensuring stability during acceleration, braking, and cornering. That being said, when the U9 reached speeds above 465 km/h, it exhibited significant swaying, necessitating advanced driver correction, as can be seen in the video.

Aerodynamically, the Track Edition mirrors the standard U9, but with the option of a carbon-fiber front splitter for additional stability. YANGWANG also partnered with Giti Tire to develop a semi-slick, track-focused tire, utilizing specialized compounds, tread design, and rim treatments to handle extreme forces and minimize wear.

The record-setting run was driven by German professional driver Marc Basseng, who also set the previous EV top-speed record in 2024. After the attempt, Basseng said, “Last year, I thought I’d peaked. I never expected to break my own record so soon — but here we are, at the same track, with new technologies that have made it possible.”

The YANGWANG U9 Track Edition still had more to give, but is limited by its aero. Will BYD return with a revised and more focused version to achieve speeds above 480 km/h, or perhaps 500 km/h? Only time will tell.