The world's fastest car crushes Porsche and Xiaomi at the Nürburgring—and yes, it's Chinese.

BYD ’s Yangwang (luxury sports car brand) U9 Xtreme (U9X) has reached new heights of excellence in electric motoring. Having set the world speed record for production vehicles with a time of a staggering 496.22 km/h ( 300.22 mph) on the ATP circuit in Papenburg, Germany , the U9X has now achieved an even more impressive feat: it completed a lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6’ 59’ 157 (6 minutes, 59 seconds and 157 thousandths), becoming the first production electric car to break the 7-minute barrier on the legendary 20.832-kilometer layout.

Beating Xiaomi and Porsche

This time not only marks a milestone for Yangwang, but also surpasses renowned competitors . ThePorsche Taycan Turbo GT, with the Weissach package, recorded a lap in 7' 07'' 550 . Meanwhile, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, in its production version, achieved a time of 7' 04'' 957 . The U9X has reduced these times by more than 8 seconds compared to the Porsche and by almost 6 seconds compared to the Xiaomi, consolidating its position as the undisputed leader in its category.

Yangwang's engineering team has been working on the circuit since July 2024, gathering data that has been instrumental in optimizing the U9X's performance. The record-breaking lap was driven by Moritz Kranz, an experienced German driver with nearly 10,000 laps of the Nürburgring under his belt. Kranz emphasized the importance of balancing the power of the electric platform with the precision of the chassis in achieving this result.

The U9X is based on the world's first mass-produced 1,200V ultra-high-voltage platform, powered by four high-performance motors capable of reaching 30,000 rpm , totaling over 3,000 hp and a power-to-weight ratio of 0.82 kg/hp. It also features the DiSus-X intelligent suspension and an advanced body control system, optimizing both top speed and lap time.

To cope with the demanding conditions of the Nürburgring, the U9X features a redesigned cooling system, carbon-ceramic brakes with titanium components, and GitiSport eGTR2 Pro semi-slick tires, developed in collaboration with Giti. These improvements allow the U9X to deliver exceptional performance on a circuit known for its complex corners and elevation changes.

Production of the U9X is limited to 30 units, underscoring its exclusivity and YANGWANG's commitment to excellence. Its name, derived from 'Extreme' and reinforced by the 'X' symbolizing the unknown, reflects the brand's philosophy: exploring the limits of performance and innovation without compromise. With this model, Yangwang has not only set a new standard in speed and lap time, but has redefined what an electric sports car can achieve today.