Which EV Dominates Nürburgring? BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme vs Xiaomi SU7 Ultra

When it comes to setting records on the Nürburgring, two electric hypercars are making waves for very different reasons: the BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme and the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. Both are stunning feats of engineering, but the way they approach speed and performance could not be more different.

The U9 Xtreme carries nearly 3,000 horsepower from its four-motor, 1,200-volt system and weighs close to 2,480 kilograms. That kind of output allowed it to run the Nordschleife in 6:59.157, breaking into the elusive sub-seven-minute territory. On top of that, it recently recorded a verified top speed of 496.22 kilometers per hour, which puts it in a class of its own.

Xiaomi’s SU7 Ultra may not chase the same outrageous top speed, but it focuses on balanced performance. With about 1,530 horsepower from its tri-motor setup, it hits 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 1.98 seconds. The production-spec version managed a 7:04.957 lap time at the Nürburgring, fast enough to top the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. Xiaomi even had an earlier prototype run the course in 6:46.87, though that was not considered a production car record.

The U9 Xtreme is built to be rare and extreme, with only 30 units expected, making it more of a showcase of Chinese engineering might. The SU7 Ultra, meanwhile, is a high-volume production car meant to compete directly with established European performance brands. In that way, one car represents ultimate excess, while the other symbolizes a serious attempt to claim the future of the performance EV market.