The BYD-developed hypercar that could come to Australia as part of the Denza premium line-up is now the world’s fastest EV.
And it’s beaten itself to do it.
The 2026 Yangwang U9 Track Edition was recently clocked at an incredible 472.41km/h at Germany’s Papenburg proving ground.
Claiming a new world record for the world’s fastest electric car, the Track Edition overtakes the stratospheric 391.94km/h record originally set by the regular Yangwang U9 back in November.
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The record was set by German professional driver Marc Basseng, who also last year’s record in the U9.
Coming ever-so-close to the hallowed 300mph (482.8km/h) top speed it took Bugatti 14 years of hypercar development to exceed, the new U9 Track Edition also closes the gap between all-electric hypercars and their more common petrol-fed rivals.
The absolute pinnacle of that breed right now is the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, which is claimed to be capable of topping out at 531km/h,
To achieve its incredible feat, the U9 Track Edition was fitted with considerable upgrades over the standard hypercar, including four e-motors that each produce up to 555kW.
Combined, Yangwang claims its most extreme variant of its hypercar produces 2220kW – a big bump up on the 960kW entry U9 musters.
To keep it stable at high-speed and to allow the EV to cope with circuit work worthy of its name, the Track Edition adds new 20-inch alloy wheels, a carbon-fibre roof, a large, fixed carbon-fibre rear wing and a new diffuser with adjustable blades.
Optional parts include a revised front splitter and an electric adjustable rear wing, which is understood to feature a low-drag position for the record attempt.
Even with the carbon add-ons, the kerb weight is still claimed to be a substantial 2480kg, with the total vehicle mass exceeding a portly 2630kg.
Feeding those four hungry e-motors is a modest-sounding 80kWh lithium iron phosphate pack that is claimed to come with a range of up to 450km on the Chinese CLTC test cycle.
As well as fast in a straight line, recharging speeds are very rapid, with a 30 to 80 per cent top-up taking just 10 minutes thanks to DC charging rates that exceed 500kW.
More trick tech includes the regular U9’s active DiSus-X intelligent body control adaptive suspension that allows the hypercar to drive on three wheels if you get a flat and, even, ‘dance’ if you’re feeling bored in traffic.
The U9 is one of a number of BYD supercars under consideration for Australia including the Denza Z.
Another Yangwang model rebadged as a Denza., the luxurious U8 ‘floating’ SUV is also on the consideration list for Australia and more likely to arrive sooner than the U9 or any otjer supercar.
In China, the U9 is priced at the equivalent of $360,000, a long way off the $1+ million charged by the supercar establishment for their slower, less technologically accomplished rivals.
