YANGWANG’s U9 Xtreme, the flagship model of BYD’s luxury sub-brand, has set a new milestone in electric performance racing. On 22 August 2025, the U9 Xtreme completed a lap of the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit, known as the “Green Hell” of motorsport, in just 6 minutes and 59.157 seconds. This time slashed over five seconds off the previous record for electric super sports cars, making the U9 Xtreme the first production EV to break the seven-minute barrier on this demanding 20.832-kilometre track.
Since July 2024, YANGWANG’s engineering team has been rigorously testing and refining the car at the Nordschleife, integrating extensive real-world data into its development. The driver behind this record-breaking lap was Moritz Kranz, a seasoned German racer with nearly 10,000 previous laps around the circuit, whose experience helped push the car to its limits on the challenging mix of steep elevation changes, blind corners, and high-speed sections.
Powered by four ultra-high-revving electric motors each capable of 30,000 rpm, the U9 Xtreme produces over 3,000PS, delivering an astounding power-to-weight ratio of 1,217PS per tonne. Its advanced 1200V e⁴ platform combined with the innovative DiSus-X intelligent body-control system enables “body-attitude control” that balances the vehicle’s footprint through every twist and turn.
To master the demanding Nürburgring, the U9 Xtreme features an all-new cooling system, titanium-alloy carbon-ceramic brakes, and special GitiSport e·GTR² PRO tires developed exclusively for this circuit. These technical marvels allow the car to excel not only in top speed but also in handling and braking during the gruelling lap.
Only 30 units of the limited-edition U9 Xtreme will be produced, emphasizing exclusivity alongside this breathtaking performance. BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li praised the achievement as proof of the brand’s vision to merge extreme speed with advanced dynamics, calling the U9 Xtreme “not only the fastest car in a straight line but also the record-breaker on one of the world’s toughest racetracks.”
For more information, visit www.bydglobal.com.
