BYD’s luxury performance brand Yangwang is preparing to unleash one of the most powerful electric cars ever built. New regulatory filings in China reveal a Track Edition of its U9 supercar boasting more than 3,000 hp. Lotus Evija and Rimac Nevera: beware!
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) regularly discloses models ahead of their official release.
The latest in their product catalogue is the Track Edition of the current U9. It turns out to be a blast. Retains the four-motor layout of the current U9, the output of each motor rises to 555 kW — more than double the 240 kW units in the production car.
The result is an astonishing combined peak output of 2,220 kW (3,019 hp). Also, the listed top speed of 350 km/hour is high for a battery-powered car.
Ultra-exclusive club
The leap in power dwarfs the current U9’s already formidable 960 kW (1,300 hp) and pushes the Track Edition into the ultra-exclusive club of vehicles claiming more than 3,000 hp. That group is limited to outlandish concepts such as the UAE’s Devel Sixteen, or Greece’s SP Automotive Chaos.
But there’s a difference. Those projects have yet to see real-world production runs, but BYD’s new flagship is on the verge of regulatory clearance for customer deliveries.
And those deliveries could reach Europe, as BYD has confirmed plans to introduce the brand here as the sporty alternative to its luxury arm, Denza. However, sales of high-performance EVs have been underwhelming.
While BYD has not confirmed performance figures, the standard U9’s 0-100 km/hour time of 2.36 seconds suggests that the Track Edition could achieve a sub-two-second time.
For the record, the Evija accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. Still, Rimac slashes it to 1.7 seconds with the Nevera R. The car may also incorporate BYD’s high-speed motor technology, introduced in March, which is capable of spinning up to 30,511 rpm —the highest among mass-produced motors, according to the company.
Theatrical stunts
Beyond the powertrain, the Track Edition features a carbon-fiber roof, a large fixed carbon-fiber rear wing, 20-inch wheels wrapped in 325/35 R20 tires, and an aggressive rear diffuser with adjustable blades.
Buyers will be able to specify a standard or enhanced carbon-fiber front splitter or opt for an electric rear wing. Suspension remains a double wishbone/multi-link setup augmented by BYD’s DiSus-X intelligent body control system, which can perform theatrical stunts like three-wheel driving.
Dimensions match those of the current U9, while the kerb weight stands at 2,480 kg, which is quite steep for a supercar. The surplus weight comes from an 80 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate pack supplied by BYD’s subsidiary, FinDreams Battery. It supports up to 500 kW DC fast charging and has a claimed range of 450 km according to the Chinese CLTC cycle.
It’s tantalizing to wonder what the brand will plan for the Track Edition. The brand’s original U9 set a Chinese production-car speed record of 391.94 km/hour and lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:17.900 last year.
Yangwang has pledged further record attempts in Germany later this year, challenging the European supercar brands on their soil. If the Track Edition’s figures hold up in independent testing, it will stand as the most potent production EV yet.
