BYD Yangwang U9 is gearing up for its most ambitious assault yet. Stella Li, executive vice president of BYD, confirmed plans for a high-speed attempt in Dubai this November. The electric hypercar already hit 308.33 mph at Germany’s ATP track in September 2025, with Marc Basseng at the wheel. Now the target is the 500 km/h barrier.
Chasing the 500 km/h Barrier
Only 3.78 km/h separates the car from that magic number. Still, the margin is thin, and stability matters more than peak thrust. Four electric motors generate 2,977 hp, giving engineers plenty of muscle to work with.
Li said the team needs a straight road roughly 15 km (9.32 miles) long. Dubai police will be approached to find a suitable location. On paper, the plan sounds straightforward. In reality, closing a stretch of road for a record run is a serious regulatory headwind. Anyone tracking BYD’s performance push should also revisit the BYD Yangwang U8, which shows how far the brand is willing to go for headlines.
| ⚙️Engine / Powertrain | Quad-motor electric powertrain |
| 🐎Power Output | 2,977 hp (2,220 kW) |
| ⚡Peak Torque | (est.) 1,000+ Nm (737+ lb-ft) |
| ⏱️0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) | (est.) 0-60 mph in under 2.5s |
| 🚀Top Speed | 308.33 mph (496.22 km/h) recorded at ATP |
| 🔄Drivetrain / Gearbox | Quad-motor electric AWD |
| 💰Starting Price / Est. | Not disclosed |
BYD Yangwang U9 Hunts Dubai Desert Road
Dubai offers the flat, long tarmac that record hunters crave. Even so, the venue, permissions, and attempt date are not yet confirmed. Until those details land, the plan remains an ambitious promise rather than a schedule.
Ultimately, the BYD Yangwang U9 must prove that a production-based hypercar can hold a line at extreme speed for kilometers, not seconds. Its track credentials are real, but the public road is an entirely different test.
Measuring Up Against Hypercar Legends
The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ reached 490.48 km/h (304.77 mph) in a single-direction run in 2019. Koenigsegg’s Agera RS recorded a two-way average of 447.19 km/h (277.87 mph) in 2017. Against that lineage, the U9 Xtreme already leads on paper.
My prediction is simple. A certified 500 km/h run will happen before 2027, and the car will become a collector’s trophy for the electric era. Even so, it will need a clean, verified result to silence the skeptics.
Ultimately, the Dubai plan is a bold statement from BYD. Whether it lands on schedule will decide if the U9 Xtreme earns its place among the true speed legends.
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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