BYD is not just making good-looking cars but also setting benchmarks for performance in the electric vehicle (EV) space. The Chinese EV brand has added a new feather to its hat. The company’s luxury sub-brand, Yangwang, recently took the Y9 Track Edition to a drag strip in Papenburg, Germany and recorded a new top speed for an EV.
BYD Yangwang Y9 becomes Fastest EV
The Yangwang Y9 Track Edition has clocked a top speed of 472.41 kmph making it the world’s fastest EV. This record was earlier held by Rimac Nevera R which recorded a top speed of 391.94 kmph in November last year, a jump of more than 20 percent. The Yangwang Y9 was driven by Marc Basseng, a German racing driver.
The Yangwang U9 Track Edition is based on the same e4 Platform and DiSus-X core architecture as the standard U9 currently available in China. It distinguishes itself by incorporating the world’s first mass-produced 1200V ultra-high-voltage vehicle platform, complemented by a thermal management system engineered for extreme operating conditions.
BYD Yangwang Y9: Key performance specs
Powering the U9 Track Edition is a quad electric motor setup that develops a monumental combined power output of 2959 bhp. This makes it one of the most powerful production cars in the world, with a power-to-weight ratio of 1200 bhp per tonne. For context, the standard U9 supercar is equipped with a dual-motor powertrain delivering 1,287 horsepower, enabling acceleration from 0 to 100 kmph in just 2.36 seconds.
Besides the additional ponies, The U9 Track Edition is further enhanced by the e4 Platform’s quad-motor independent torque-vectoring system, which continuously analyzes road feedback and adjusts torque distribution to each wheel at a frequency exceeding 100 times per second. This ensures precise body control and eliminates wheel slip or traction loss, even at high speeds.
On top of this, the U9 Track Edition rolls on track-focused semi-slick tyres that have been developed in a collaboration with Giti Tire. This high-performance tyre uses optimized compounds, a bespoke tread design, and knurling with high-viscosity lubricant at the rim interface to reduce slippage, torque loss, and wear, while enhancing stability and control during dynamic driving. Other enhancements over the standard U9 include a new front splitter for better aerodynamics and a carbon fibre roof.
