Eclipsing the peak velocity of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme has clocked 308.4mph at the Papenburg test track in north Germany. This makes it the fastest car in the world - regardless of powertrain.

Using a quartet of electric motors that can spin up to 30,000rpm, the U9 Xtreme produces 2,977bhp - more than double the output of the standard car. The bump in power is partly down to a raised system voltage, with the U9 Xtreme using a 1,200v architecture as opposed to 800v. The quad-motor powertrain allows precise torque vectoring, and each motor’s output can be adjusted over 100 times per second to suit circuit driving.

The U9 Xtreme sits on the company’s e4 platform, housing a LFP Blade battery between the axles. DiSus-X active suspension features at each corner, alongside 20” wheels with 325mm-wide rubber. The car also dispenses with the standard model’s high-level rear wing to reduce drag, but a small shark fin still protrudes from the rear bodywork to aid airflow. A close look reveals the oldest trick in the book to maximise a car's streamlining: tape being placed over the panel gaps.

The car was piloted by Marc Basseng, a former racing driver and FIA GT1 champion. He’s the same man who took the U9 to 233mph in 2024, and the U9 Xtreme to 293.5mph in August, with the Papenburg test track the setting for each run. The circuit features a pair of 2.5-mile long straights connected by banked corners, and the U9 Xtreme simply teleports along the length of the five-lane asphalt.

With “no more than 30” examples of the U9 Xtreme set to be built, the model can claim the record of the fastest production car in the world. Pricing in China begins at the equivalent of £200,000 for the standard U9, but we expect the Xtreme variant to command a hefty premium. Whether the internal roll cage will make it to the roads remains to be seen.

As with all speed records, there’s a caveat; the Yangwang U9 Xtreme’s top speed was attained in one direction, rather than the two-way average required for a definitive world record. As such, the SSC Tuatara technically remains the fastest car in the world with its independently verified 282.9mph two-way average speed.

Regardless, the U9 Xtreme still comfortably exceeded 300mph, and judging by the rate of acceleration from the onboard footage, it looks like it’s got more to give. Could Yangwang be preparing to break the 500km/h (310.7mph) threshold in both directions and beat the established hypercar makers into second place? Don’t bet against it.