Nearly one year after the limited-production hypercar, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme, achieved a top speed of 496,22 km/h, Chinese automaker BYD is not content to stop there. The brand is now setting its sights on a new goal: exceeding the 500 km/h milestone.

As part of its expansion strategy in the UK market and the launch of its Denza sub-brand, BYD set up a large display at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed. Stella Li, vice president of BYD, revealed that the company plans to attempt to break its own record this november.

Sharing insights with Li Yunfei, BYD's brand and communications director, Stella Li stated that the car will return to the Automotive Testing Papenburg track in Germany, the same location where the 2025 record was set.

The acceleration of the BYD Yangwang U9 from nearly 400 km/h to its record-setting 496,22 km/h on the German track in 9/2025. Video: BYD

Data analysis from the previous run indicates that test driver Marc Basseng had enough straight-line track remaining to push the accelerator for an additional 1,5 seconds. This duration is sufficient for the car to surpass the 500 km/h barrier, a threshold that hypercar manufacturers like Koenigsegg and Hennessey have discussed for years but have yet to conquer.

Reviewing the video of the run shows that the hypercar was not operating at its full potential. Upon reaching 490 km/h, the car showed signs of veering from the center lane to the left, forcing driver Basseng to ease off the throttle for safety. With minor aerodynamic refinements, BYD expects to maintain absolute stability as the car reaches speeds previously unheard of for a production vehicle.

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme on the German track. Photo: BYD

The power of the Yangwang U9 Xtreme comes from a 1,200 V electrical platform and a system of four electric motors, delivering a total output of up to 2,978 horsepower. Only 30 units of this model will be produced globally.

While the U9 Xtreme has exceeded the 490,48 km/h one-way speed record set by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ in 2019, the official two-way record title still belongs to the SSC Tuatara, with a benchmark of 455,3 km/h. To claim this remaining title, BYD would need to find a test location that allows the car to operate in both opposing directions.

My Anh (according to CarNewsChina, Carscoops)