The world of high-performance motoring is changing — and very fast. China’s emerging luxury-performance EV brand Yangwang has shattered one of the toughest automotive milestones. Its flagship hyper-EV, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme, has recorded an extraordinary 6:59.157 lap time at the Nürburgring Nordschleife — the first time any electric production car has gone under seven minutes on the iconic 20.832-km track.
This achievement marks a pivotal moment for electric performance vehicles. The Nürburgring is considered the toughest test of speed, aerodynamics, battery cooling, grip and overall resilience. When a car performs here, it proves it can perform anywhere — and the U9 Xtreme has secured its place among the world’s most elite hypercars.
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What Makes This Lap So Historic?
Breaking the seven-minute barrier places the U9 Xtreme into the company of legendary combustion-powered hypercars — but with a futuristic electric heart. Until now, EVs struggled with thermal management, brake endurance, and weight penalties, making such a lap nearly impossible.
This record proves that:
✅ EVs can dominate not just straight-line speed — but complex circuits
✅ Chinese automakers are entering the highest tier of global performance
✅ Technology advancements in cooling, motors and batteries are accelerating rapidly
Insane Performance Engineering
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme isn’t just a modified street EV. It’s a fully engineered hypercar built to redefine what electric performance means.
| Component | Specification (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Motors | 4 high-performance motors (one at each wheel) |
| Power | 3,000+ PS combined output |
| Top Speed | 496.22 km/h (308+ mph) — claimed record |
| Electrical System | 1,200-volt ultra-high-voltage architecture |
| Battery | 80 kWh Blade-type LFP battery |
| Tyres | GitiSport e·GTR2 PRO semi-slick race tyres |
| Brakes | Titanium-alloy carbon-ceramic system |
| Chassis Control | DiSus-X active body-control technology |
| Production | Limited to just 30 units worldwide |
These specs showcase an EV designed not just for brute force — but for technical precision and sustained track speed.
The Lap: Driven by a Pro, Tuned for Victory
Piloted by professional German racer Moritz Kranz, the U9 Xtreme attacked the Nürburgring with:
✅ exceptional mechanical grip
✅ high-speed cornering stability
✅ powerful regenerative and ceramic braking
✅ cooling tech that prevented power drop-off
EV critics often argue “EVs fade after a few laps.”
This run proves: not this one.
Earlier Achievement: Fastest Production Car Top Speed
Just before the Nürburgring lap, the U9 Xtreme also claimed a new world production-car top-speed record:
🔹 496.22 km/h (≈308 mph) at ATP Papenburg, Germany
Two major world records within days —
Yangwang is sending a global warning shot to traditional hypercar giants.
Impact on the Global Hypercar Market
This is a game-changing moment for multiple reasons:
✅ China now competes directly with Italy, UK, Japan & USA in hypercar innovation
✅ EV technology is now tied to top-tier performance, not just efficiency
✅ Benchmarking performance is no longer dominated by combustion engines
✅ Ultra-high-voltage systems will soon migrate into premium consumer EVs
The U9 Xtreme shows that hyper-EVs are not the future —
they are the present.
What Happens Next?
A few things to watch:
• Will the record be officially certified with full transparency?
• Will the U9 Xtreme be sold outside China — and to who?
• How will supercar brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Rimac respond?
• Will Yangwang expand this tech into more affordable models?
The race is on — and the U9 Xtreme has taken an early lead.
FAQs
Is the Yangwang U9 Xtreme a production car?
Yes — but extremely limited. Only about 30 units will be produced.
Will it be available internationally?
Primarily China at launch. Global distribution remains uncertain and exclusive.
How does it compare to other hyper-EVs?
It now holds faster top speed and lap record than existing EV hypercars in public testing.
Final Thoughts
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme is more than a record-breaker —
it represents a historic shift in automotive power and prestige.
For years, EVs were doubted as true high-performance machines.
Now, an electric hypercar stands confidently among — and ahead of — combustion legends.
China’s Yangwang has thrown down an electrified gauntlet:
Racing’s future will be silent, lightning-fast, and technologically relentless.