The Yangwang U9 Track Edition is now the world’s fastest electric vehicle. BYD’s high-end sub-brand set a new world record for EVs with its 3,000-horsepower hypercar—and gas-powered competitors should take note.
The U9 Track Edition, a quad-motor monster from China, hit 293.54 miles per hour on August 8 in Germany. It broke the previous record set by the Aspark Owl in 2024, which hit 272.6 mph.
The Yangwang U9 Track Edition features the same platform and technical architecture as the U9 currently on sale, but with a few tweaks. According to the automaker, the EV features “the world’s first mass-produced” 1,200-volt ultra-high-voltage vehicle platform, which it pairs with a tweaked thermal-management system.
It’s this combination, on top of the U9’s quad-motor setup, that gives the Track Edition its extreme capability. Each motor, capable of spinning up to 30,000 rpm, produces 744.26 horsepower. Yangwang says the car’s combined output exceeds 2,958 hp, making it one of the most powerful cars in the world.
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Source: Yangwang
The Track Edition features the U9’s DiSus-X Intelligent Body Control System, which enables the EV to perform wild things, such as hopping or driving on three wheels. On the Track Edition, Yangwang enhanced the software’s “body posture control” for track scenarios, which can make independent suspension adjustments at each wheel for optimal track handling.
The EV also has a torque-vectoring system that prevents wheel slip and traction loss at high speeds. It’s capable of making torque adjustments 100 times per second. Visually, the U9 Track Edition loses the U9’s rear wing but gains a carbon-fiber front splitter, which the automaker says is already in mass production.
Yangwang took what it learned from its previous attempt and collaborated with Giti Tire on a track-focused semi-slick tire for the Tack Edition. The high-performance tire features a bespoke tread design and an “optimized compound.”
Other High-Speed EVs
The U9’s new top-speed record surpassed the one set last year by Aspark. The electric hypercar from Japan reached 272.6 miles per hour, beating the previous record set by the Rimac Nevera, which hit 268.2 mph.
It’ll be interesting to see which EV breaks the 300-mph barrier first. Yangwang previously attempted to set a record last year, reaching 243 mph, and today it seems quite possible we’ll see a 300-mph EV very soon.
It’s clearly within reach of today’s technology if someone wants to push those boundaries.
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