Yangwang U9 Xtreme Sets New Nürburgring Record for Fastest Production EV, but Can’t Beat Ford’s Mustang GTD
BYD’s luxury division, Yangwang, has made headlines with its U9 Xtreme hypercar, which clocked a staggering 6:59.157 lap time at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, making it the fastest production EV around the track. This sub-7-minute milestone, driven by German racer Moritz Kranz, is five seconds faster than the previous record holder, Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra. The U9 Xtreme achieves this incredible feat with its four electric motors producing a combined 3,000 horsepower. However, despite its immense power, the U9 Xtreme couldn’t surpass the Ford Mustang GTD, an internal combustion engine (ICE) car that completed the circuit seven seconds faster, boasting 815 hp. This highlights the ongoing debate about the enduring place of combustion engines in high-performance vehicles.
Yangwang U9 Xtreme: The New Electric King of the Ring
BYD’s luxury brand, Yangwang, has asserted its dominance in the electric hypercar segment with a record-breaking performance.
- Fastest Production EV Lap: The Yangwang U9 Xtreme officially completed the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6:59.157, setting a new record for the fastest production electric vehicle.
- Driver: The record-setting lap was driven by German racer Moritz Kranz.
- Powerhouse: This achievement is powered by the hypercar’s four electric motors, collectively producing an astonishing 3,000 horsepower.
- Previous Record Smashed: The U9 Xtreme’s time is five seconds faster than the previous holder, Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra.
- Beyond the Ring: The U9 Xtreme has also made headlines as potentially the fastest EV on the planet, reportedly clocking 308 mph and claiming the top-speed title from Rimac’s Nevera R.
EV vs. ICE: The GTD Challenge
Despite the U9 Xtreme’s incredible electric performance, an American muscle car still holds an edge.
- Mustang GTD’s Victory: The Ford Mustang GTD clocked the Nürburgring seven seconds faster than China’s fastest EV.
- Horsepower Disadvantage: This is a remarkable feat for the Mustang GTD, given its “massive horsepower disadvantage”—815 hp versus the U9 Xtreme’s 3,000 hp.
- ICE’s Enduring Place: This comparison “proves time and again that there’s still a place for good ol’ combustion in high-performance cars.”
- Context with Other Track Weapons: The Mustang GTD is approximately three seconds slower than the Porsche GT3 RS, an established track car with roughly 300 horsepower less than the GTD.
- Overall Record: The overall production car lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife is held by the Mercedes-AMG One with a time of 6:29.09. The GTD is 23 seconds slower than this multi-million-dollar hypercar, but still demonstrates immense capability for a “Mustang off the production line.”
Final Thoughts: Commendable Achievements
The Nürburgring continues to be the ultimate proving ground for high-performance vehicles, showcasing the rapid advancements in both EV and ICE technologies.
- Commendable Efforts: “Any attempt under the 7-minute mark, whether ICE or EV, is seriously commendable.”
- BYD’s Progress: Full credit is given to BYD for “upping the game” in the electric vehicle space.
- Enduring Innovation: The results highlight the continuous innovation from “all the brilliant minds who refuse to let combustion fade quietly into history.”
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