A NEW world's fastest car has been crowned to overtake the Bugatti Chiron – it may not be what you expect.
This is also the first electric vehicle to claim the title of "fastest production car".
BYD’s new Yangwang U9 Xtreme can surge to speeds of 308.4mph.
It is a special edition of the Yangwang U9 hypercar which has taken over the previous best of 304.48mph.
The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ reached these top speeds, until a test track was carried out with the BYD car in Germany.
Test driver at the German Automative Testing Papenburg, Marc Basseng, 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."
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme is an upgraded version of the standard U9 hypercar which is currently on sale in China.
Bassang previously got to 233mph on the U9 in 2024.
And as a U9 Track Edition, the Xtreme (or U9X), hit 292mph over the summer.
New added features have now made it possible for it to become the world's fastest EV, and reach extreme top speeds generally.
But Yangway has said it will only sell "no more than 30" of these vehicles.
BYD's special edition U9 runs a 1,200-volt electrical system rather than a standard 800-volt.
This is the first in any production car.
Inside it, there is also a lithium ion phosphate battery that has the familiar "blade" configuration of BYD models.
To exceed speeds of 300mph on the track, the car has used revised DiSus-X suspension and semi-slick tyres.
But is has a hefty kerb weight of 2,480kg.
BYD's creation could usher a new era of electric supercars to challenge traditional petrol vehicles known for hitting top speed records and lap times.
Next in line is the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut said to be capable of 310mph.
Questions now remain as to whether the U9 Xtreme could also challenge the EV land speed record of 341.264 held by the Buckeye Bullet 3.
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