BYD aims to exceed 500 km/h with the Yangwang U9X, and has already chosen the date and location for the record attempt

Stella Li, BYD’s executive vice president, has confirmed that the company will attempt to exceed 500 km/h with the Yangwang U9 Xtreme (also known as U9X) next November. Although the attempt will take place in Dubai, the exact location has not yet been chosen (the team is searching for a 15 km straight road to break the record).

Currently, the Yangwang U9X is the fastest production car in the world, having reached 496.22 km/h during a previous attempt in Germany, surpassing the record set by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ (490.5 km/h). The company believes there is still room for improvement, which is why it will strive to reach the symbolic figure of 500 km/h.

It appears that test driver Marc Basseng still had 1.5 seconds of maximum acceleration left before he had to start slowing down. Initially, it was announced that the second attempt would take place in Germany; however, the change of location to the United Arab Emirates might be due to marketing reasons.

Dubai has also been chosen as the venue for the launch of the new Yangwang Altior, a luxury sedan that the Chinese brand aims to use to compete with brands such as Bentley, Mercedes-Maybach, or Rolls-Royce. The launch of this model could coincide with the U9X record attempt, as it would provide significant media coverage.

The Yangwang U9X delivers 3,018 horsepower

The propulsion system of the Yangwang U9X consists of four electric motors, each producing 755 horsepower (555 kW) and capable of exceeding 30,000 rpm. The total combined power is 3,018 horsepower (2,220 kW). Thus, this vehicle is the most powerful car on Earth, outpacing hypercars like the Lotus Evija or Rimac Nevera by more than 1,000 horsepower.

Its battery is of the LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) type, a chemistry that is uncommon in high-performance vehicles. It still offers a discharge rate of 30C. On the other hand, the DiSus-X active suspension can quickly and independently adjust the vertical movements of each wheel, thereby reducing body roll and pitching when accelerating, turning, or braking. The torque vectoring system, in turn, modifies the response of each wheel more than 100 times per second.

Compared to a standard U9, the Xtreme version features upgrades such as a larger front carbon fiber splitter and a dual diffuser; additionally, its 20-inch wheels are equipped with GitiSport e.GTR2 Pro semi-slick tires. The braking system consists of titanium calipers and carbon ceramic discs.

Source | CarNewsChina