Yangwang U9 Xtreme Hits 503.17 km/h in Abu Dhabi to Set a New World Speed Record

Abu Dhabi: Some records feel big. This one feels almost unreal. On 1 November 2026, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme reached 503.17 km/h (312.65 mph) on a road in Abu Dhabi, setting a new world speed record for a production car. For UAE readers, it is a proud moment too, because it happened right here. 

Here is the story, in simple terms.

Quick read

• Record speed: 503.17 km/h (312.65 mph)
• Location: Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11), Al Dhafra Region, Abu Dhabi
• Previous benchmark: 496.22 km/h, set at ATP Papenburg in Germany

The Record Run: What Happened on 1 November

The record came on the second run of the day, on the E11 in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra Region. Marc Basseng, a sports-car and endurance racer, was behind the wheel. The speed was verified by Guinness World Records, which recognised two records: the highest speed by a production car in a single-direction run, and the highest speed by an electric production car in a single-direction run. The FIA also recognised the speed.

Behind the Scenes: Preparing an Abu Dhabi Road

The team ran for two days with the full cooperation of local authorities, who made up to 10 km of road available for closure. The longest straight used for top-speed runs was seven kilometres. Because the road is close to the desert and used by everyday traffic, it was swept before each run.

On 31 October, two runs reached a maximum of 490 km/h (304 mph). Overnight, the team adjusted battery and motor temperatures, changed the rear-wing angle to increase rear-axle downforce, reprofiled the suspension software for more rebound damping, and fine-tuned tyre pressures. The first run on 1 November confirmed the gains, and the second set the record.

The Road to 500 km/h

Date	Car	Speed	Location
January 2024	Regular U9	309 km/h	Wuhan Hannan Airport, China
October 2024	Regular U9	391.94 km/h	ATP Papenburg, Germany
August 2025	U9X	472.41 km/h	ATP Papenburg, Germany
September 2025	U9X	496.22 km/h	ATP Papenburg, Germany
1 November 2026	U9 Xtreme	503.17 km/h	Abu Dhabi, UAE

The U9 Xtreme also lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6m 59.157s, the lap record for production electric vehicles, in the same specification as the car that set the speed record.

What Makes It So Fast

Power is the headline. The four-motor setup delivers over 3,000PS combined, which is more than double the standard U9's 1,287PS, and the power-to-weight ratio is 1,217PS per tonne.

Area	Key Detail
Motors	Up to 30,000rpm, described as a world first
Platform	First production model with a 1200V platform (standard U9 uses 800V), up to 1000A
Battery	Blade Battery (LFP), 30C discharge, 1800kW output at 20% charge
Torque control	Quad-motor independent torque vectoring, adjusted more than 100 times per second

BYD says the 1200V platform reduces heat generation by up to 67% at matching power output versus 800V.

 

Suspension and Tyres

The DiSus-X suspension can generate up to 50kN of active force within 120 milliseconds, with independent vertical adjustment at each corner. The tyres are track-focused semi-slicks developed with Giti Tire.

What Did the Team Say

BYD Executive Vice-president Stella Li called 503.17 km/h "a fantastic achievement," adding that "our engineers are young, bold and maybe a little crazy." Driver Marc Basseng said: "Breaking a world record once is extraordinary but doing it again in such a different environment is truly special."

The Production Car: Dawn Moment

The production version is called "Dawn Moment," limited to 30 units worldwide. Like Maserati's move into luxury real estate, it shows how far exclusive brands are going to stand apart. Some customers have approved bespoke specifications and are moving toward contract signing and production scheduling. No price or UAE availability was shared.

Our Take

This record is less about everyday driving and more about showing what Yangwang and BYD's engineering can do. For UAE buyers, it is a reminder that electric performance is moving very fast. If your needs are more down-to-earth, such as a family adventure car, our look at the Ford Everest V6 may suit you better.

Also Read: McLaren 788HS: The 720S Line's Final, Most Powerful Evolution