BYD Electric Supercar Crashes During High-Speed Testing

A high-performance electric supercar developed by BYD, known as the Yangwang U9 Xtreme and boasting 2,978 horsepower, was severely damaged during a high-speed test run while preparing to break a world record. The vehicle lost control and crashed into a protective barrier along the track.

Photographs of the wreckage reveal extensive damage to the vehicle's body, leaving mostly the carbon fiber monocoque intact. Despite the severity of the crash, the driver escaped with minor injuries and no serious harm. The exact speed at the moment of impact was not disclosed, and the manufacturer has not clarified the precise date of the incident.

The Chinese automaker has been attempting to surpass the 500 km/h barrier with the Yangwang U9 Xtreme. Earlier in 2025, the model reached 496.22 km/h at the test track in Papenburg, Germany, surpassing the previous record held by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+.

BYD is preparing a new attempt scheduled for November in the United Arab Emirates. Telemetry data from the previous test indicated that the driver could have held the accelerator down for an additional 1.5 seconds, which would have yielded a higher top speed. If the vehicle successfully reaches 500 km/h, it will be approximately 13% faster than the Koenigsegg Agera RS.

Engineering teams previously encountered significant aerodynamic challenges during preparation in China. When the vehicle exceeded 400 km/h, it exhibited oscillations that impacted stability. The crew determined that onboard measuring equipment contributed to the issue and subsequently removed the devices.

Global production for the model will be strictly limited to 30 units, with one allocated to Brazil, according to Alexandre Baldy, vice-president of BYD in the country. The manufacturer has not publicly stated the exact reasons behind the loss of control during the recent test.

In a separate development within the supercar sector, a custom coachbuilt vehicle dubbed Game Over debuted at the SEMA event. Created by the US-based tuning firm S-Klub, the car pays homage to the legendary Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR from the 1990s.

Unlike typical replicas, the project utilizes a brand-new McLaren 750S as its foundation rather than a modest platform. The heavily redesigned bodywork features a Rosso Red paint job and maintains the McLaren's original 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, which delivers 750 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque.