Yangwang U9 Xtreme Debuts, Sets New Global Road-Car Speed at 496.22 km/h
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Yangwang launches U9 Xtreme, a 30-unit track special that clocks 496.22 km/h and posts a sub-7 Nürburgring lap.
Yangwang today announced the track-focused special edition of its U9 hypercar, officially named Yangwang U9 Xtreme (U9X). The model will be limited to 30 units globally, with bespoke, full-vehicle customization for each car. In August, an engineering prototype set a global top-speed record for electric vehicles; just one month later, the U9X pushed further to 496.22 km/h, a result the company says surpasses combustion benchmarks to top the overall road-car speed list. Yangwang also disclosed the U9X’s first Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 6:59.157, underscoring a breakthrough that combines extreme V-max with circuit control—true to the brand spirit of “pursuing the unprecedented.”
Name & Positioning
Derived from the word “extreme,” the “X” stands for the unknown and the edge—together denoting a spirit of pushing boundaries. Unlike the current U9, which balances road comfort with track enjoyment (“street, track and play”), the U9X is singularly track-oriented, with comprehensive hardware and software upgrades to unleash the capabilities of a pure-electric hypercar in circuit scenarios.
Architecture & Vehicle Dynamics
The U9X debuts what Yangwang calls the world’s first mass-production 1,200-V platform, paired with four high-performance e-motors spinning up to 30,000 rpm. Top-grade materials—aerospace-grade aluminum housings, high-speed bearings, and 970 MPa rotors—support a system output exceeding 3,000 PS and a power-to-weight ratio up to 1,217 PS/ton, placing multiple metrics at global best-in-class levels. Building on the U9’s YiSiFang torque-vectoring and YunNian-X active body-control architecture, the U9X introduces body-attitude control into track use. Yangwang says this yields a step-change beyond theoretical figures—re-shaping physical limits so a single product can deliver both record V-max and lap time.
Tyres Engineered for Extreme Duty
To meet the extraordinary demands of track conditions, Yangwang co-developed GitiSport e·GTR² PRO semi-slicks with Giti, using aramid fibers—widely used in ballistic vests—to suppress high-speed radial growth and maintain stability beyond 500 km/h. An asymmetric racing tread enhances cornering grip while enabling rapid water evacuation on wet surfaces. The critical bead-to-sidewall transition areas were structurally reinforced to support high-G steady-state cornering, ensuring both high-speed handling and safety.
Significance & Collectability
The U9X’s twin breakthroughs in top speed and lap time set a new milestone in NEV R&D and, Yangwang says, affirm China’s role as a technology leader in global high-performance vehicles. With a 30-unit global allocation, each U9X blends cutting-edge engineering with collector-grade rarity—a statement piece showcasing the rapid ascent of China’s automotive industry.
