BYD’s upgraded 3,000 hp Yangwang U9 set to beat all electric supercars

The current Yangwang U9 uses four motors to provide around 1,300 hp (970 kW). However, BYD seems to have upgraded this with new 555 kW motors at each of the four wheels for its planned new edition, according to details filed with China’s MIIT.

That much power makes the new U9 more powerful than any current production electric hypercar. In fact, it surpasses other supercars like the Lotus Evija (1,972 hp) and Rimac Nevera (1,914 hp) by a large margin.

Balancing old with the new

Weighing 5,467 pounds (2,480 kg), the Yangwang U9 Track Edition will only be about 441 pounds (200 kg) heavier than the Rimac Nevera, which has much less power.

The new U9 will measure between 16.3 feet (4.97 meters) and 16.37 feet (4.99 meters) in length, and 6.6 feet (2 meters) in width. It will likely also be between 4.3 feet (1.311 meters) and 4.43 feet (1.351 meters) in height, with a 9.51 feet (2.9 meters) wheelbase.

According to reports, the U9 Track Edition will mostly retain the built design of the existing base model, featuring a glossy red and black exterior, 20-inch wheels with 325/35 R20 tyres, carbon-fibre roof, a large fixed carbon-fibre rear wing and a range of aerodynamic options.

Meanwhile, the current U9 model uses an 80 kWh lithium iron phosphate BYD Blade battery, delivering a CLTC-rated range of 280 miles (450 km). Other features include a 500 kW DC fast-charging capability, enabling a 30% to 80% state-of-charge in about 10 minutes. The Yangwang U9’s suspension is BYD’s ‘DiSus-X’ system, capable of extreme moves like hopping over potholes or driving on three wheels.

Perfecting an already impressive car

Although additional specifications of the upcoming Track Edition can be gleamed from the existing base model, a good number of details are missing from the MIIT filing.

While the current U9 can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0–100 kph) in 2.36 seconds, the Track Edition could potentially rival or beat the Nürburgring lap record for road-legal cars, currently held by Mercedes-AMG One.

The base model has already achieved a lap time of 7 minutes and 17.9 seconds in November 2024 at Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife. For reference, the top speed for the old model is already clocked at 243.5 mph (391.94 kph).

The upgraded U9 might most likely race faster but details are yet to be made public. There is also no mention of a price tag, but the existing base model will set you back about $233,411 (1.68 million Yuan).

From the filing it appears that the upcoming variant is not just a ‘track package’ U9 with spoilers. Instead, it promises to be a massively updated electric hypercar, which could challenge the fastest petrol-powered cars in history while also showcasing how extreme Chinese EV engineering has become.