BYD’s Yangwang U9 Extreme has set a new benchmark for all-electric hypercars by recording the fastest lap time at Germany’s Nürburgring: an impressive 6:59.157. This was shared by the automaker through its social media platforms.
This lap time makes the U9 Extreme the fastest production electric car ever to conquer the iconic 13-mile Nordschleife circuit. Previously, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra recorded a lap time of 6:46.874, in the similar course. However, the lap time does not officially count, as the model used was a prototype. This is where the U9 Extreme’s record is more legitimate, since it was achieved with a production model.
Additionally, the luxury brand’s EV shattered its previous record of 7:17.900, becoming the first production electric vehicle in its class to break the coveted seven-minute barrier. This remarkable achievement comes just a month after the U9 Extreme set another milestone, reaching a record-breaking top speed of 496.22 km/h at the Automotive Testing Papenburg facility in Germany.
German endurance racer Moritz Kranz piloted the Yangwang U9 Extreme during its record-breaking run at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. According to Kranz, the lap time highlights the EV’s exceptional chassis tuning and engineering precision.
The U9 Extreme is powered by BYD’s Yi Sifang system, featuring a four-motor setup — one motor per wheel — each producing 555 kW, for a combined output of 2,220 kW (nearly 3,000 hp). It operates on one of the world’s first 1,200V platforms, designed to maximise performance, efficiency, and weight reduction.
In addition, the hypercar debuts a track-grade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade Battery with dual-layer cooling and a 30C discharge rate, ensuring superior thermal management under extreme driving conditions. The chassis also integrates BYD’s DiSus-X active body control system, which utilises a dual-valve suspension to precisely adjust vertical wheel movement in real time, enhancing grip, stability, and cornering performance on the track.
As of now, the company has announced that only 30 units will be produced for the global market. At the time of writing, the price of the car is yet to be unveiled by the company.
