Chinese Hypercar Smashes World Record Hits 503km/h, But 1 Unit Could Buy You 240 Top-Spec Myvis

Chinese automotive titan BYD has just etched its name into the history books as its flagship electric hypercar became the first mass-production car in the world to break the jaw-dropping 500 km/h barrier.

While the engineering feat is undeniably impressive, car enthusiasts and everyday Malaysians alike are left doing the math on its eye-watering estimated price tag, which could comfortably buy you an entire fleet of brand-new Perodua Myvis!

Smashes world record: Clocked at 503.17 km/h in Abu Dhabi

During an official high-speed test session held on a closed highway in Abu Dhabi on November 1, the all-electric Yangwang U9 Xtreme registered a staggering top speed of 503.17 km/h. Behind the wheel was German professional racing driver Marc Basseng, who pushed the electric beast beyond its previous record of 496.22 km/h set in Germany, as reported by Kosmo!.

The groundbreaking run was officially recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) for the mass-production car category.

“YANGWANG U9 Xtreme has done the impossible, surpassing 500km/h to set a new world speed record in Abu Dhabi. Four Guinness World Records. FIA-recognised. All-electric,” BYD Malaysia announced on Instagram.

Under the hood, or rather, beneath its aerodynamic chassis, the U9 Xtreme is powered by four independent electric motors generating a mind-blowing 3,019 horsepower (PS), more than double the output of the standard Yangwang U9 variant.

1 U9 Xtreme vs. 240 top-spec Perodua Myvis

While speed freaks are drooling over the 3,019 PS output and its 1200V ultra-high-voltage platform, the real talk of the town is its ultra-exclusive price tag and rarity.

According to BYD Accessories, global production of the Yangwang U9 Xtreme is strictly capped at just 30 units worldwide. With the base Yangwang U9 retailing at around RM1.1 million, industry experts estimate the performance-tuned Xtreme edition to cost between RM1.76 million to RM3.08 million local taxes and duties.

To put that astronomical figure into perspective for Malaysian drivers, for the estimated price of one Yangwang U9 Xtreme (approx. RM3 million), you could literally purchase roughly 240 units of a brand-new, top-spec 1.5L AV Perodua Myvis (at RM59, 900 each according to Perodua)!

That’s enough to gift a king of the road to your entire extended family, your neighbourhood, and still have enough left over for petrol for the next decade!

Would you take one 503 km/h electric hypercar or a fleet of 240 Myvis? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Also read: Proton Saga Wins International Design Award In China, Earns Recognition For ASEAN Market