BYD pursues 500 km/h electric supercar record as Audi RS7 hits 306 km/h in test

Chinese automaker BYD is preparing its Yangwang U9 Xtrema electric supercar to break the 500 km/h barrier. The car already reached 496 km/h on Germany’s Papenburg circuit in September 2025, surpassing the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ record. BYD aims to exceed 500 km/h in autumn 2026, leveraging a 3,000‑horsepower electric drivetrain and an 800‑volt battery system, while addressing challenges such as battery cooling, aerodynamics and tire durability.

In a separate high‑speed trial, Audi AG allowed journalists to test an RS7 at the Mont‑de‑Marsan air base in France. The V8 twin‑turbo RS7, equipped with a 605‑horsepower engine and a Dynamic Plus package, achieved a top speed of 306 km/h on the 3.6‑km runway, demonstrating the model’s performance capabilities beyond the usual 280 km/h limit.

Both events highlight the ongoing pursuit of extreme speed in the automotive sector, with electric powertrains and traditional combustion engines pushing the limits of engineering.