The world's fastest car is now the Yangwang U9 Xtreme, with a top speed of 496.22km/h and nearly 3,000hp

The fastest production car in the world is now the Yangwang U9 Xtreme electric hypercar, with the Chinese super-speeder hitting a top speed of 496.22km/h.

With a combined total of 2,958hp being sent to all four wheels, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme rocketed to the new production car speed record at a private test in Germany, dethroning the previous record-holder, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+. 

Hailing from Yangwang, the ultra-premium sub-brand of BYD, the U9 Xtreme is the souped-up, ultra-fast variant of the already rather extreme Yangwang U9 hypercar. 

However, unlike the standard U9, the U9 Xtreme runs on a 1,200V architecture (800V in the normal U9). This allows it to discharge significantly more power for a much longer period compared to the standard U9. 

Power output was also bumped up from 1,287hp in the normal U9 to the ludicrous 2,958hp in the U9 Xtreme, making it the most powerful production car ever built as well. 

The U9’s Pirelli P Zeros were also swapped for semi-slick Giti tyres, while the active DiSus-X suspension was revised for maximum stability during its high-speed run. The U9’s large rear wing was also removed for the sake of reducing drag, a crucial factor when trying to hit V-max. 

And if 496.22km/h wasn’t enough, the computer data from the record-breaking run suggested that German racecar ace, Marc Basseng, could theoretically have kept the throttle pinned for a little longer, if it weren’t for factors like wind gusts and the extreme tyre loads. 

Apart from the title of world’s fastest car, the U9 Xtreme also holds the record for the fastest electric vehicle to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife, with its 6 minute 59.157 second laptime beating out the previous record set by the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. 

The U9 Xtreme is now available for order by customers, but production for the Xtreme variant will be limited to just 30 units. 

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme on its way to being crowned the world's fastest production car.

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