Richard Hammond Meets BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme, the Fastest Production Car on Earth, and Survives

Richard Hammond slid into the driver’s seat of BYD’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme with a good mix of caution and exhilaration. With a top speed of 308 miles per hour, this Chinese hypercar had already broken the manufacturing speed record. Its four electric motors together produced an astounding nearly 3,000 horsepower. He was well-versed in the specification sheet, which included a 1,200-volt battery system, torque vectoring, adaptive suspension capable of lifting the vehicle over obstacles, and much more.

Without a wind-up or crescendo, the hypercar went from being motionless to warp speed in an instant. The strange thing was that the 200 mph didn’t even feel that significant. With such great power, you would think the U9 Xtreme would be a monster, but instead it just drove smoothly without any hiccups.

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Hammond was surprised when a new aspect of the vehicle emerged in the cornering arena. The U9 Xtreme was quite sharp and kept its body flat in the turns, contrary to his belief that it would be best suited for driving in a straight line. He questioned his function in operating the vehicle because the active systems handled the weight transfer and grip so efficiently. Was he pushing something that could already handle the tough sections, or merely directing the car? Even under some very harsh corners, the chassis refused to roll or pitch too much.

Every time he floored it, the pull and response were immediate and unrelenting, making the power addictive in a positive way. He was thrilled by the car’s accuracy and composed application of force, yet he was constantly on edge due to its immense power. He acknowledged that he was afraid, which was probably rather common. There’s a problem if you’re not a little afraid in a car like this.

Ultimately, the U9 Xtreme left him both unnerved by its potential and genuinely impressed by its ingenuity. The fastest production automobile in the world is made in China, and it’s actually rather astonishing how confidently they’ve done it. The U9 Xtreme quietly gave its unadulterated performance instead of being all show and no substance. After everything was said and done, Hammond left with a smile on his face, his nerves unharmed, and a fresh appreciation for what BYD had accomplished.