BYD’s 2,977‑Horsepower Yangwang U9 Xtreme Crashes During High‑Speed Test in China
A BYD hypercar suffered a dramatic crash on a closed Chinese track, but the driver walked away unharmed.
Whoa! BYD’s ferocious Yangwang U9 Xtreme, boasting a staggering 2,977 horsepower, crashed during a high‑speed run on a closed track in China.
Footage and images released by CarNewsChina began spreading on Chinese platforms on November 2. The car appears to have left the racing line, slamming into a barrier hard enough to rip the rear axle assembly away from the chassis.
BYD has not disclosed the speed at the moment of impact nor the precise cause of the loss of control. What a shock!
Remarkably, the test driver emerged from the wreckage without serious injury, climbing out unaided. The passenger compartment, built around a carbon‑fiber‑intensive cell, stayed largely intact, and there were no immediate reports of a battery fire.
Photos show severe damage to both front and rear bodywork, with the rear axle completely detached. The vehicle’s “Super Carbon‑Fiber Cabin” is designed for high torsional rigidity and occupant protection, a feature that appears to have done its job.
The U9 Xtreme is the most extreme variant of BYD’s U9 electric supercar. In September 2025, it set a record of 308.3 mph (496.22 km/h), the fastest production EV at the time, a feat BYD officially confirmed.
Power comes from four electric motors delivering a combined 2,977 hp, a 1,200‑volt system, and an 80.0 kWh battery. Track‑focused semi‑slick tires and a heavily revised DiSus‑X suspension complement the e4 platform, which can control torque at each wheel independently.
BYD has announced plans to return the U9 Xtreme to the United Arab Emirates for another high‑speed attempt, aiming to surpass its own 308‑mph record and break the 311‑mph (500 km/h) barrier.
Whether the recent crash will affect those ambitions remains to be seen.
