BYD Hypercar Becomes Fastest EV, Hits 293 mph

The Yangwang U9 just hit a staggering 293.54 mph (472.41 km/h) during testing in Germany. The run makes BYD’s Yangwang U9 the fastest electric vehicle worldwide, outpacing the Rimac Nevera R (268 mph) and Aspark Owl (272 mph). It even surpasses the Koenigsegg Agera RS.

BYD’s hypercar leaps forward

When the Yangwang U9 launched last year, its 243 mph top speed already made it China’s fastest production car. The Track Edition builds on that platform with a jaw-dropping 2,958 horsepower from four electric motors, more than double the standard U9’s output and 852 hp clear of the Rimac Nevera R. The U9’s power is delivered through a 1,200-volt ultra-high voltage platform and managed by advanced torque vectoring that makes adjustments more than 100 times per second.

According to Top Gear, the Yangwang U9’s recent record-setting run at the Automotive Testing Papenburg track was driven by German racer Marc Basseng. He also piloted the standard U9 to 233 mph a year ago. “I never expected to break my own record so soon — but here we are,” Basseng said after the run.

Yangwang U9 with race-ready tweaks

The Yangwang U9 EV used for testing was fitted with a roll cage, racing seat, and bespoke semi-slick tires developed with Giti. BYD says everything else remained production-spec, including the brand’s “DiSus-X Intelligent Body Control System.” The system can cancel out body roll, keep the car flat under acceleration and braking, and even leap into the air.

Questions remain about whether the Yangwang U9 run will receive an official certification, given that it was conducted in a single direction. Regardless, BYD has made its point: the Yangwang U9 Track Edition is now the world’s fastest EV.

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