This 2,958 bhp EV Set A 293 mph Record, But Its Hilarious Name Is What Everyone’s Talking About
BYD’s sub-brand has just set a new electric vehicle top-speed record of 472.41 km/h (293.54 mph) at Germany’s ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg track.
The awkwardly hilarious name that helped it go viral? The Yangwang U9 Track Edition.
Image credit: BYD
Amusing name aside, the U9 Track Edition means serious business.
With the top-speed attempt, the *ahem* Yangwang smashed the previous record held by the Aspark Owl at 272.61 mph.
It’s worth noting this was a single-direction run, not the usual two-way average most records require. Still, it beats the Rimac Nevera and Aspark Owl claims.
Watch German driver Marc Basseng set the record:
The U9 Track Edition utilizes Yangwang’s quad-motor setup, featuring one motor per wheel, capable of spinning at an insane 30,000 rpm with ultra-fast torque vectoring.
Each of the 555 kW motors produces 744 horsepower, powered by an ultra-high-voltage 1200V system paired with the same 80 kWh LFP “Blade” batteries as the road car, with aero tweaks enhancing top speed.
Image credit: BYD
This translates to a 0-62 mph sprint in 2.36 seconds and a quarter-mile in 9.78 seconds.
BYD claims a power-to-weight ratio of 1,200 bhp per tonne, putting the weight at about 2,640 kg. Hefty for a car that’s capable of touching nearly 300 mph.
Image credit: BYD
The record isn’t officially confirmed yet, as it requires multiple runs in both directions. Still, the rapid rise of these supercars from unexpected places continues to shake up the automotive world.
We recently witnessed the sideways capabilities of Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra, which previously broke the Rimac Nevera’s Nürburgring lap record in 7 minutes 4.95 seconds.
The best part? Xiaomi’s EV costs just $74,000, while the Nevera is thirty times more expensive, typically selling for around $2.2-2.5 million.
Whether the rest of the world will catch up to China’s impressive recent achievements remains to be seen.
At this pace, it’s not hard to imagine a Chinese EV drift car emerging soon. With DriftHQ already proving Teslas can get properly sideways, a purpose-built Chinese EV drift car doesn’t feel far off.
You can read BYD’s official press release here.
Written by:
Published on:
Bill is a writer and photographer who has been part of the Drifted team since 2015. His work extends to various print and online publications, including Wangan Warriors.
As part of the King of Nations team, he traveled extensively for several years, capturing top-tier international drift events worldwide. His hands-on experience, including rebuilding his own Nissan Silvia S15 drift car, gives him unique insights into drift car building and global drift culture.
When not behind the lens or keyboard, Bill can be found browsing classifieds for his next JDM project or shredding virtual tires on popular simulators like Assetto Corsa, CarX, and Forza.
You can learn more about Bill’s story here or follow his socials on X (formerly Twitter), Flickr, Facebook, and Instagram.
