[REVISION HISTORY]

BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme speed record and crash

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2026-11-06 21:23 UTC → 2026-11-07 03:14 UTC · added ~~removed~~

BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme ~~sets world~~ speed record and crash

BYD planned a high speed attempt to push its Yangwang U9 Xtreme electric hypercar past the 500 km/h milestone. Executive Vice President Stella Li identified Dubai as a potential location for the test, tentatively planned for November 2026. The manufacturer sought a straight stretch of road approximately 15 kilometers in length to coordinate with local authorities for safety measures. The company aimed to build upon a September 2025 achievement in Germany, where the vehicle reached 496.22 km/h at the ATP Papenburg oval, overtaking the top speed previously held by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+. On November 1, 2026, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme successfully set a new world speed record in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Driving on a closed section of the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road in the Al Dhafra region, driver Marc Basseng reached a top speed of 503.17 km/h. This achievement, officially recognized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), makes the vehicle the first production car to surpass the 500 km/h barrier. It secured two Guinness World Records: the fastest production car and the fastest electric production car in a single-direction run. To achieve this milestone, engineers implemented adjustments to the vehicle’s aerodynamics, damping, and tire pressures following earlier attempts that reached 490 km/h. The U9 Xtreme utilizes a 1,200-volt architecture and four electric motors producing a combined output of over 3,000 PS. On November 2, 2026, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme was involved in a severe crash during a high speed run in China. Footage showed the vehicle veering off its line and striking a track barrier. The impact caused the rear axle assembly to detach and heavily damaged the bodywork, though the carbon-fiber passenger cell remained intact. The driver, Jiang Wen, reportedly escaped uninjured.

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