China’s BYD is building the world’s most powerful electric car – report

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The already-potent BYD Yangwang U9 will get an even more hardcore version, known as the Track Edition, which will more than double its power output to 2220kW.


Max Stevens
China’s BYD is building the world’s most powerful electric car – report

BYD's electric supercar – the Yangwang U9 – will reportedly receive a massive upgrade that will make it one of the most powerful in the world, in the form of a new ‘Track Edition’.

Car News China reports BYD has received government approval to sell a new U9 Track Edition with a combined output of 2220kW, more than double the 960kW of the current model, which has visited Australia on a promotional tour.

It has come from four 552kW electric motors – up from 220kW each previously – driving all four wheels.

The power boost means the U9 Track Edition outmuscles other circuit-chasing electric vehicles (EVs) like the Rimac Nevera (1427kW), Lotus Evija (1500kW), and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (815kW), as well as top-shelf hypercars with petrol engines like the Koenigsegg Gemera (1692kW) and Ferrari SF90 XX (758kW).

China’s BYD is building the world’s most powerful electric car – report

The U9 Track Edition’s reported power output is significantly more than that of fellow Chinese electric supercar, the 1139kW Xiaomi SU7 Ultra sedan, which set an electric vehicle lap record at the Nurburgring earlier this year.

However, BYD Yangwang and Xiaomi are not the only Chinese car makers making waves in the supercar scene that has traditionally been dominated by European marques.

GWM – which sells utes, SUVs and city hatchbacks in Australia – recently teased a plug-in hybrid supercar expected to use a V8 engine, but it is unclear if it will reach the performance levels of the Yangwang U9 Track Edition.

The U9 Track Edition features four 555kW electric motors – one for each wheel – for a combined output of 2220kW, but the new variant will also be distinguished by more aggressive aerodynamic bodywork.

China’s BYD is building the world’s most powerful electric car – report
Text translated from Chinese using Google translate, inaccuracies may be present.

Available on the U9 Track Edition is a carbon-fibre roof and a large, fixed rear wing to improve downforce.

However, buyers can also opt for a ‘standard’ or ‘large’ carbon-fibre front splitter, plus an optional electrically-operated rear spoiler that can be deployed or retracted.

The U9 Track Edition measures 4966mm long with the standard carbon-fibre front spoiler installed, with the enlarged version adding another 25mm nose to tail.

As for width, height, and wheelbase, the U9 Track Edition reportedly measures 2029mm, 1311mm, and 2900mm, respectively.

Max Stevens

Max is the News Publishing Coordinator for Drive. He enjoys creating engaging digital content, including videos, podcasts, interactive maps, and graphs. Prior to Drive, he studied at Monash University and gained experience working for various publications. He grew up playing Burnout 3: Takedown on the PS2 and was disappointed when real life car races didn’t have the same physics.

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