Yangwang U9 achieves 7:17.9 Nürburgring lap, achieving new benchmark for BYD
BYD‘s Yangwang U9 (see specs) electric supercar has achieved a milestone by recording a lap time of 7 minutes and 17.9 seconds on Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife. This marks the first time a BYD’s electric supercar with mass-production capability has challenged the notoriously demanding track.
Yangwang Sales Director Hu Xiaoqing explained that while the U9’s lap time was successfully recorded, it has yet to appear on the Nürburgring’s official records. Since the U9 is unavailable in the European market, BYD must complete additional certifications to qualify it as a production car that is eligible for official record acknowledgment. Once these procedural steps are cleared, the U9’s lap time could be added to the Nürburgring’s leaderboard, granting BYD international recognition for this electric supercar’s capabilities.
The Yangwang U9, introduced earlier this year, reached production and saw its first customer deliveries in August. It has a length of 4,966 mm, a width of 2,029 mm, and a height of 1,295 mm, with a wheelbase of 2,900 mm, while its weight stands at 2,475 kg. The car is engineered with performance-enhancing features such as a carbon fiber roof, a rear diffuser, and an optional racing wing. Available in colors like midnight silver, argyle purple, and crimson vermillion, the U9 is priced at 1.68 million yuan (about $232,500).
Alongside its Nürburgring achievement, BYD announced on November 7 that the U9 reached a top speed of 391.94 kph, setting a new speed record for a Chinese production car. This record reflects Yangwang’s ongoing efforts to establish the U9 as a high-speed performer and as a contender in the high-performance EV market.
Additionally, the U9’s Nürburgring trials involved six months of rigorous testing on the track’s challenging 20.8-kilometer layout. During this period, engineers assessed over 100 technical setups and nearly as many tire configurations, fine-tuning the U9 to meet track conditions. These extensive tests underscore BYD’s focus on optimizing performance and stability.
