Yangwang U9 Targets Nürburgring Lap Record
According to official sources, the Yangwang U9 will return to Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife in July for another round of lap time testing.
The Yangwang U9, a flagship performance electric supercar under BYD’s premium sub-brand, was officially launched on February 25, 2024, with a price tag of $230,000. Positioned as a million-level high-performance EV, the U9 has achieved a cumulative national delivery volume of 100 units as of January this year.
The U9’s headline feature is its proprietary “e4” quad-motor independent drive system, with each motor capable of a peak speed of 21,000 rpm. Combined, the system delivers over 1,300 horsepower and a peak torque of 1,680 N·m. The powertrain works in tandem with the YunNian X intelligent body control system, a fully active suspension capable of reacting within 40 milliseconds and offering up to 75 mm of vertical travel, significantly enhancing dynamic handling capabilities.
Supported by this advanced powertrain and chassis setup, the U9 has already completed a series of high-speed and dynamic tests in China, achieving a top speed of 391.94 km/h.
During its Nürburgring shakedown last year, the U9 recorded a lap time of 7:17.900, placing it among the fastest production EVs on the leaderboard—behind only the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (7:07.55) and ahead of the Tesla Model S Plaid (7:25.231).
However, that result stirred considerable controversy.
The U9 prototype tested at the Nürburgring differed in several aspects from the final production version. Notably, the test vehicle featured aerodynamic components not found on the production model. In addition, it was equipped with Giti Compete GTR1 full-slick tires, which are not approved for official lap record validation.
Moreover, for a Nürburgring lap time to be considered legitimate, the run must include certified timing, complete video documentation, and third-party data verification. Previous U9 lap time claims, such as those from the Shanghai International Circuit, have been publicly debunked—leading to skepticism about the credibility of the Nürburgring result.
Nonetheless, given the U9’s curb weight of 2,475 kg, which is heavier than both the Taycan Turbo GT (2,290 kg) and the Model S Plaid (2,183 kg), its performance is still regarded as impressive within the segment.
The upcoming test program will reportedly include both the Nürburgring Nordschleife and the ATP high-speed proving ground in Germany. Yangwang stated that the U9 has accumulated substantial test data over the past year, and this return to the Ring is a data-driven iteration validation.
As one of China’s key challengers in the high-performance electric supercar space, the Yangwang U9’s reappearance at the Nürburgring is expected to be a major test of engineering, handling, and brand credibility.
Can it set a new benchmark and achieve official lap time recognition this time?
We’ll be watching closely.
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