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# BYD breaks 500km/h barrier with 2220kW hypercar
- URL: https://torquecafe.com/car-news-500kmh-barrier-broken-byd-yangwang-u9-xtreme-top-speed-record/
- Published: 2026-11-06T21:04:56.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-06T21:04:56.000Z
- Description: Chinese car giant BYD has smashed its own production car top speed record, becoming the first marque past 500km/h with the Yangwang U9 Xtreme.
- Author: Jordan Mulach
- Tags: News, Performance, Electric

The BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme already held the record as the fastest production car in the world, and now it’s surpassed its own feat to make history.

On a closed highway in Abu Dhabi, former Bathurst 12 Hour winner and existing record holder Marc Basseng drove the U9 Xtreme to 503.17km/h, smashing its own previous best of [496.22km/h](https://torquecafe.com/say-hello-to-the-worlds-new-fastest-car/) in a single direction.

It moves the Yangwang U9 Xtreme even further away from the official two-way production car top speed record, with that 490.48km/h, set by the Bugatti Chiron.

The possibility of the U9 Xtreme breaking past 500km/h was signalled by its previous record run, with Basseng only having to lift off after the electric hypercar started to move out of its lane.

While that run was completed at a dedicated test facility in Germany, the new record was set on the closed Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11), with 10km being shut down for the attempt, which was officially made on its 7km straight.

This length became crucial, as at its top speed, the U9 Xtreme can cover one kilometre in just over seven seconds.

![BYD's Yangwang U9 Xtreme on the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11) in Abu Dhabi](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a9/b3/a9b3e204-3117-4792-9a32-46184029df44/content/images/2026/11/byd-yangwang-u9-xtreme-top-speed-record-2026-abu-dhabi-5.jpeg)

BYD's Yangwang U9 Xtreme on the road it surpassed the 500km/h barrier

The record attempt was the result of a build up across four sessions over two days, with fine-tuning of the U9 Xtreme required to make sure it could safely go past 500km/h – with a different example having [recently crashed in China](https://torquecafe.com/car-news-byd-yangwang-u9-xtreme-crash-china/).

Powered by four 555kW electric motors, the U9 Xtreme produces almost 2220kW combined, enough to overcome its hefty kerb weight of 2480kg.

“This time, we took on an entirely different challenge – pushing the limits of speed on a public road in Abu Dhabi,” Basseng said. 

![Marc Basseng with the BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme after eclipsing 500km/h](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a9/b3/a9b3e204-3117-4792-9a32-46184029df44/content/images/2026/11/byd-yangwang-u9-xtreme-top-speed-record-2026-abu-dhabi-2.jpeg)

Marc Basseng with the BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme

“Unlike a dedicated test track, a public road presents a different set of challenges, making precision, stability and confidence in the vehicle more important than ever. Breaking a world record once is extraordinary but doing it again in such a different environment is truly special. 

“At these extreme speeds every detail matters, and none of this would have been possible without the incredible Yangwang engineering team. I am proud to be part of this journey and to demonstrate just how far electric vehicle technology can go."

Only 30 examples of the electric hypercar are being built for global customers, and just[ one U9 Xtreme is coming to Australia](https://torquecafe.com/byd-news-yangwang-u9-xtreme-australia/), with BYD confirming business magnate and Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis is set to be the sole Down Under owner.