The Yangwang U9 Xtreme was badly damaged in a high-speed crash during a closed-track test as it attempted to reach approximately 500 km/h. The driver was unhurt and got out of the car without assistance, according to the report by Cars New China cited in the source article.
Videos and photographs of the crash circulated in China on November 2. The car reportedly veered off course and struck a barrier, ripping away its rear axle. The vehicle is valued at $3 million.
The U9 Xtreme is the latest evolution of the Yangwang U9, first presented at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show. It uses four electric motors with a combined maximum output of 3,000 horsepower and a 1,200-volt electrical architecture. Its weight is 2,480 kilograms.
The source article attributes the driver’s survival to the car’s structural safety features. Its cabin’s central monocoque is made from aerospace-grade T700, 12K carbon fiber, while the roof is designed to withstand more than 11 tonnes of lateral compression. The battery is integrated into the chassis structure, where it also serves as reinforcement.
Yangwang plans to continue pursuing the 500 km/h target, with the next attempt scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates.
Sources: Motorpasión.