BYD’s posh sub-brand YANGWANG has set a new electric vehicle top-speed record of 472.41 km/h – or 294mph - at a test track in Germany. The feat was achieved with YANGWANG’s latest U9 Track Edition.
The U9 Track Edition is built upon the same platform as the YANGWANG U9 currently on sale in China. On top of this, it features the world’s first mass-produced 1200V ultra-high-voltage electrical architecture, paired with a thermal-management system optimised for extreme conditions.
The U9 Track Edition has a quad-motor system with peak power of 555kW per motor, giving a combined system output exceeding 3,000PS – that’s around the same as 19 Vauxhall Corsa Electrics.
The quad-motors’ independent torque-vectoring system continuously monitors road feedback, adjusting each wheel’s torque 100 times per second. Meanwhile, the Body Control System performs adjustments to the suspension at each corner of the vehicle during aggressive acceleration and cornering, or on uneven surfaces. This improves driver comfort, but also actively optimises the contact patch between the tyres and the road, maximising grip.
YANGWANG collaborated with Giti Tire to develop a track-focused semi-slick tyre. This features optimised compound materials and a bespoke tread design, while an innovative knurling at the rim minimises relative slippage during hard acceleration or braking. This reduces torque loss and tyre wear, while improving predictability and stability during dynamic manoeuvres.
The new world record was set by German professional driver Marc Basseng, who was behind the wheel for the previous global EV speed record in 2024. After completing the high-speed test for YANGWANG, he said, “Last year, I thought I'd peaked. I never expected to break my own record so soon — but here we are, at the same track, with new technologies that have made it possible.”
The U9 Track Edition has more power than 19 Vauxhall Corsa Electrics 
