BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme Sets New Production EV Lap Record At Nurburgring

BYD’s premium sub-brand Yangwang has pushed the boundaries of electric performance with the U9 Xtreme, a hypercar designed to translate colossal battery electric power into consistent lap time. The latest milestone arrives at the world’s most demanding test track, the Nurburgring Nordschleife, where the U9 Xtreme set a production EV record with a lap of 6:59.157. This achievement builds on the U9 program’s earlier top speed feat by the Track Edition, which reached 472.41 kmph. Together, these results underline how rapidly electric hypercars are evolving in both straight line performance and circuit capability.

The Record Lap

The 20.8 km Nordschleife compresses every kind of corner, elevation change and surface into a single lap, making it a severe test of power delivery, thermal management and chassis balance. The Yangwang U9 Xtreme completed its lap in 6:59.157, breaking into the six-minute bracket that has historically been reserved for the quickest combustion supercars and track specials. The car was driven by German racer Moritz Kranz, a GT4, GT3 and LMP3 regular with more than sixty race wins, ensuring professional consistency during the flying lap.

Short Summary

Margin Over The Previous EV Benchmark

The U9 Xtreme bettered the previous production EV reference set by Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra with Track Package. The Xiaomi sedan recorded a 7:04.957, meaning the Yangwang’s improvement is 5.8 seconds. In the context of the Nordschleife, where hundredths accumulate quickly, a near six second margin is significant and suggests gains from both raw output and chassis-aero efficiency.

How It Stacks Up Against Overall Record Holders

The EV record is distinct from the outright production car record. The current overall champion is the Mercedes-AMG One with a 6:29.09. By comparison, the U9 Xtreme’s 6:59.157 is about thirty seconds slower, yet it places the BYD hypercar among a cohort of elite machines that includes track-prepared versions of iconic combustion models. Consider that the U9’s time is comparable to the laps recorded by cars like the Lamborghini Aventador SV and Manthey-equipped Porsche 911 GT3, both renowned for circuit poise.

Powertrain Architecture

Under the bodywork sits an 80 kWh LFP battery that feeds four electric motors, one per wheel. Each motor can spin to an extraordinary 30,000 rpm, and together they deliver a combined 3,000 hp. This is more than double the already formidable 1,305 hp rating of the standard Yangwang U9. The quad-motor layout enables precise torque vectoring, allowing the control system to shape the car’s attitude mid-corner and stabilise the chassis during high speed transitions. The powertrain’s breadth is central to the record lap, since the Nordschleife punishes any gaps in torque or cooling.

Upgrades That Define The Xtreme Variant

As its name implies, the U9 Xtreme layers substantial hardware and software changes onto the base car:

• Cooling package with higher capacity heat exchangers and airflow optimisation to maintain motor, inverter and battery temperatures through a full push lap.
• DiSus-X body control system retuned for track duty, coordinating damping, roll control and ride height to maintain a consistent aero platform.
• Titanium alloy carbon ceramic brakes for repeated high energy stops with superior thermal stability, lighter unsprung mass and improved pedal feel.
• GitiSport semi-slick tyres that widen the mechanical grip window and retain temperature over a long stint.
• High downforce aero including a sizeable rear wing that was not present on the earlier U9 Track Edition top speed car, trading absolute Vmax for corner speed and stability.

Each component plays a role in surviving the Nordschleife’s long full-throttle sections while keeping braking zones repeatable and turn-in precise.

Chassis, Aero And Balance

The U9 Xtreme’s lap time is not solely a product of power. Sustained high speed sections like Flugplatz, Schwedenkreuz and Dottinger Hohe require drag efficiency, while technical sectors such as the Hatzenbach complex and the run through the Karussell demand a stable aero platform and predictable roll response. The active and fixed elements of the U9’s aero, in concert with the DiSus-X logic, help keep the tyres in their operating window and the body control consistent. The large rear wing increases rear axle confidence during trail braking and stabilises yaw when cresting bumps or compressions.

Driver And Development Program

Yangwang engaged Moritz Kranz for the record effort. A driver with experience across GT categories and prototypes brings not only outright pace but also mechanical sympathy, which matters when managing temperature targets over a single clear lap. The company’s development work at the Nordschleife dates back to mid-2024, indicating a structured program of data gathering, setup changes and durability checks in varied weather and traffic conditions.

Significance For Electric Performance Cars

Electric hypercars have often been measured by acceleration or top speed headlines. This lap record shifts focus to sustained performance. On a circuit that blends straights with relentless cornering load, the U9 Xtreme proves that modern EVs can manage heat, power delivery and brake energy repeatedly, not just in a short burst. It also shows how software-defined chassis systems can leverage instant torque distribution to elevate lap time without sacrificing stability.

What Comes Next

The U9 Xtreme’s achievement raises the bar for rival manufacturers developing quad-motor flagships or high output dual-motor cars with advanced vectoring. Expect further attention to battery chemistry, cooling circuit design, and integrated control strategies that unify aero, suspension and torque delivery. Track-focused aero packages may become a mainstream factory option for EV hypercars, mirroring trends long established in the combustion world.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What exactly is the Yangwang U9 Xtreme

It is a track-focused evolution of BYD’s Yangwang U9 hypercar that adds power, cooling, chassis tuning and aero components aimed at circuit performance.

2. How fast did it lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife

It recorded a 6:59.157 lap, which is currently the fastest time for a production EV around the 20.8 km circuit.

3. How much quicker is it than the previous EV record

The U9 Xtreme is 5.8 seconds quicker than the previous benchmark set by the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra equipped with a Track Package.

4. What are the key hardware upgrades on the Xtreme

Highlights include a more efficient cooling system, DiSus-X body control tuning, titanium alloy carbon ceramic brakes, GitiSport semi-slick tyres and a large rear wing for extra downforce.

5. How does it compare to the overall Nurburgring production car record

The overall record belongs to the Mercedes-AMG One at 6:29.09. The U9 Xtreme’s time is about thirty seconds slower, which still places it among very fast road-legal cars.

Conclusion

The BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme’s 6:59.157 lap at the Nurburgring Nordschleife marks a watershed for production EVs. It pairs a monumental 3,000 hp output with the discipline required to sustain that performance over twenty-plus kilometers of unforgiving tarmac. With enhanced cooling, serious brakes, semi-slick rubber and a dedicated aero package, the Xtreme variant translates electric thrust into corner speed and consistency. While the overall record remains with a combustion hybrid hypercar, the gap is narrowing as EV engineering matures at a rapid pace.

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