Besting its previous top speed run, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme has set a new top speed record for production cars in Abu Dhabi. Watch the footage below…
Confirmed by the FIA, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme has set a new top speed record for production cars. Taking place in Abu Dhabi, the BYD luxury sub-brand achieved a top speed of 503.17 km/h; besting the previous record it set at Germany’s ATP Papenburg proving ground in 2025. The Yangwang U9 Xtreme is the first production car to pass the 500 km/h barrier.
The record-breaking run took place on 1 November 2026. German racing driver Marc Basseng took to Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi. The demarcated section of road was 10 km long, as selected by government officials for the run, of which seven kilometres were straight road. It is important to note that the record was achieved in a one-way sprint, rather than the traditional two-way run from which an average figure is taken.
The Yangwang U9 Xreme, of which only 30 will be built, employs four electric motors, fed by a 1 200 V lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) Blade Battery. Combined, the most-focused U9’s quad electric-motor setup produces a jaw-dropping 2 206 kW. Top speed equipment on the U9 Xtreme included semi-slick tyres co-developed with Giti Tire and revised DiSus-X suspension.
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