Ferrari and Lamborghini have both stepped away from the top speed arms race. China’s automakers have not. The Yangwang U9 Xtreme has just hit 312.66 mph on a public highway in Abu Dhabi, becoming the first production car to top 500 km/h.
Yangwang U9 Xtreme Cracks 500 KMH
Yangwang already held the production crown at 308.3 mph, set in 2025 after it dethroned the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+. This run matters most to metric buyers. At 503.17 km/h, the car clears a barrier that no series production machine had crossed before. German racer Marc Basseng handled the driving duties.
Abu Dhabi’s E11 highway provided a closed 4.6-mile section suitable for the attempt. Cleaners combed every inch for debris and desert sand. Earlier coverage of BYD’s 300-MPH electric hypercar showed how thin the margin for error can be at these speeds.
| ⚙️Engine / Powertrain | Quad electric motor setup (est.) |
| 🐎Power Output | 2,959 hp (3,000 PS) |
| ⚡Peak Torque | Over 2,200 Nm (est.) |
| ⏱️0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) | 0-60 mph in 1.9s (est.) |
| 🚀Top Speed | 312.66 mph (503.17 km/h) |
| 🔄Drivetrain / Gearbox | Quad-Motor Electric / AWD |
| 💰Starting Price / Est. | $1,400,000 (est.) |
Two Days, One Overnight Engineering Miracle
Yangwang’s crew did not get there on the first attempt. Two runs the day before topped out at 304 mph. Overnight, engineers warmed the battery and motors to their optimum temperatures, adjusted the rear spoiler, and retuned the suspension rebound damping. Tire pressures got the same obsessive treatment.
Power comes from four electric motors producing over 2,959 hp, fed by a 1,200-volt system and a custom Blade battery. Giti Tire supplied the semi-slick rubber. On paper, this is a marketing coup for BYD. Still, the business case depends on whether a limited hypercar can lift the brand’s image in export markets.
Public Roads, Private Risks
The Koenigsegg Agera RS set the last public road top speed record at 277.87 mph in 2017, so this achievement is rare. Even so, the risks remain obvious. Footage from China shows another U9 Xtreme shredded against guardrails during an attempt. BYD has not disclosed the speed or cause, but the driver walked away without major injuries.
Ultimately, the 500 km/h badge will carry collector cachet for years. Expect early examples to hold their value better than most electric machines, provided the engineering holds up under pressure.
Liam Campbell
Industry Intelligence & News Editor at Auto News Magazine. Tracking prototype spy shots, Nürburgring development mules, automaker corporate moves, and breaking global automotive scoops.
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