BYD’s electric supercar delivers an insane nearly 3,000 hp from four electric motors. During a high-speed test, the Yangwang U9 Extreme crashed at about 280 mph, but the driver walked away unharmed.
BYD shares video of EV supercar in high-speed crash
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme is a “dream car,” as BYD calls it, a souped-up, track-focused version of its electric hypercar.
After it became the world’s fastest production car last year, reaching a top speed of 496.22 km/h, or about 308 mph, BYD is attempting to beat it by breaking the 500 km/h (310 mph) mark.
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme features the world’s first mass-produced 1,200V ultra-high-voltage platform and BYD’s e4 platform.
The quad-motor setup is the first in the world rated at 30,000 rpm, BYD said, delivering nearly 3,000 hp (3,000 PS) combined.
While BYD is preparing to attempt a run this month, the company shared a video of the Yangwang U9 Xtreme crashing in a violent high-speed test.
During the first run, it clocked over 350 km/h (217 mph), no problem. On the second run, it hit over 420 km/h (261 mph).
However, during the third run, BYD was attempting to reach over 450 km/h (280 mph) when the vehicle violently crashed into the guardrail and continued spinning out of control. You can see some of the footage from inside the vehicle.
BYD said that after a comprehensive medical exam, the hospital found the driver in good health with no serious injuries.
The vehicle’s high-strength carbon-fiber cabin also held up impressively despite the front and rear damage.
It didn’t take long for BYD to try again, reaching a top speed of 457.89 km/h (284.5 mph) on the next run. Jiang Gong, one of Yangwang’s riders, said he sees some leeway and believes it can break 500 km/h (310 mph).
At the end of the video, BYD said (translated into English), “The ultimate pursuit has no end; the summit will eventually be reached.”
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