The fastest car on the planet just shattered another record

• Yangwang U9 Xtreme sets new Nürburgring lap record
• Time of 6 mins 59.157 seconds
• Faster than the production version of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra (the prototype was quicker), Rimac Nevera or Porsche Taycan Turbo GT
• Makes is quickest production EV to run the ‘Green Hell’
• Limited series production run of no more than 30 units

Records keep tumbling for the ferocious Yangwang U9 Xtreme, which is now the fastest production EV ever to lap Germany’s Nürburgring race track.

In case you’re not already familiar, the U9 Xtreme is a fully-electric hypercar that’s built by Yangwang, the performance arm of Chinese manufacturer BYD.

Last month we brought you news that the U9 Xtreme (a track version of the regular U9) had become the fastest car on the planet after hitting a top speed of 308.4mph - making it quicker than a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport.

And now the 3000 PS circuit weapon has just monstered one of the most famous and feared racetracks in the world. There’s a reason the ‘Ring is called ‘The Green Hell’, after all.

What was the Yangwang U9 Xtreme Nürburgring lap time?

The Yangwang hypercar lapped the Nürburgring in a time of 6 mins 59.157 secs, dipping just below the fabled 7 minute barrier.

That makes the U9 Xtreme quicker than the previous record holder - the production variant of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra (although the prototype version of the SU7 was quicker than the U9 Xtreme) - and also faster than either the Rimac Nevera or Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.

Yangwang says the U9 Xtreme claimed the fastest lap title in the ‘Electric Super Sports Cars’ category, which applies to cars that aren’t just bespoke track-only prototypes, but which are actually put into series production.

The U9 Xtreme will have a limited production run of no more than 30 units.

What’s the fastest EV around the Nürburgring?

While the Yangwang U9 Xtreme is the fastest production EV around the Nürburgring (at the time of writing), it’s not the quickest EV around The Green Hell, full stop.

That honour goes to the Volkswagen ID.R prototype, which recorded a time of 6 minutes 5.336 seconds back in 2019.

How powerful is the Yangwang U9 Xtreme?

A colossal 3,000 PS developed via a lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery and four ultra-high-speed motors that operate at up to 30,000rpm.

Yangwang says a power-to-weight ratio of 1,217 PS per tonne ‘sets new global benchmarks for performance’.

In terms of 0-62mph acceleration, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme can sprint from 0-62mph in just 2.36 seconds, which makes it quicker off the mark than cars like the Porsche Taycan Turbo S or the legendary Bugatti Veyron.

What’s so special about the Nürburgring race track?

The Nürburgring, located Nürburg, Germany, has long been a testbed for performance vehicles and manufacturers flock there to put cars through their paces.

The Nürburgring is actually home to two tracks; the short Grand Prix circuit (around 3 miles long) and the historic Nordschleife (aka the ‘North Loop’) which weighs in at almost 13 miles.

And it’s the Nordschleife that most people talk about when they refer to the ’Nürburgring’.

The track itself is wild, with more than 150 turns winding through mountainous terrain and around 1,000ft of elevation change.

With that mix of high-speed straights, inclines and descents, blind crests and rough surfaces, it can be quick to expose a car’s limitations.

The other thing that makes the Nordschleife special is that it’s open to the public on certain days - like a toll road - and you can take anything you want on it while driving at any speed you like (while still abiding by German road rules, such as overtaking on the left).

It costs around €30–€35 per lap (prices can vary) and you can book in via the official website.

A word of warning, though. It won’t take you long to find videos of folks binning their pride and joy at the Nurburgring during these co-called ‘Tourist Drives’.

And your insurance company might not take too kindly to a blat around The Green Hell if it’s not covered in your policy. Plan ahead and check your insurance cover.

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