Originally known as the U9 Track/Special Edition, the U9X already snatched the fastest EV ever reaching 490.484 km/h (304.48 mph) last August.

The U9X is a limited production variant with a run of no more than 30 units globally. While the “X” in the name means “Extreme,” BYD says the emphasis on “X” is deliberate since it also represents the unknown. It’s a quality that fits with Yangwang in “taking joy and delight in the act of exploration and the innovations that come through that process.”

While a limited production hyper car, the Yangwang U9X uses the same technical architecture of the U9 hyper car currently on sale in China.

These include, but are not limited to: an upgraded powertrain with 1200-volt ultra-high-voltage electrics (compared with 800V), a lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery with a remarkably high discharge rate (30C), four ultra-high-speed motors that operate at up to 30,000 rpm and produce a total of more than 3000 horsepower, track-level semi-slick tires, and revised DiSus-X suspension with specific tuning to cope with the increased stresses of circuit driving.

BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li said: “This is an incredibly proud moment for everyone in the research and development division. Yangwang is a brand that does not recognize the impossible, and only through this commitment to what’s coming next can you end up with a vehicle like the U9X. I extend my gratitude to the whole team, and my thanks to the driver, Marc Basseng, for his skill and technical input. It’s terrific that the fastest production car in the world is now electric.”

The driver for the U9X’s record-breaking run was Marc Basseng, a German track specialist with a long history in sports-car racing and endurance motorsport. He said: “This record was only possible because the U9 Xtreme simply has incredible performance. Technically, something like this is not possible with a combustion engine. Thanks to the electric motor, the car is quiet, there are no load changes, and that allows me to focus even more on the track.”