The Power War Goes Bonkers As 3020-Hp EV Supercar Previewed

Forbes

3 hours ago

Just 30 years ago, enthusiasts were drooling over sports cars like the Ford Mustang V8 Cobra R, the Chevy Camaro Z28 SS, Porsche's 911, the Honda NSX, Nissan's Skyline GT-R, Toyota's Supra and the Mazda RX-7, all of which produced around 300-hp.
Wind the clock forward three decades and that maximum power output has been boosted by 10 times! That's right, China's massive BYD conglomerate is just about to launch a 3,020-hp fully-electric supercar called the Yangwang U9 Track Edition. Okay, so the naming might be a bit 'iffy,' but jokes aside, that is a ridiculous amount of power. Yep, let's say it—dangerous, in fact. But before we get into the upgraded U9 Track Edition, let's first check out the specs of the base model launched last year.
The base model U9 produces 1300-hp, so that's more than double the power!
The base model Yangwang U9 went on sale exactly one year ago boasting a seemingly modest by comparison 1,300-hp and four advanced e-motors, one on each wheel. This powertrain allows the U9 to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 2.36 seconds. To put that figure into perspective, Ferrari's twin-turbo V8 SF90 Stradale reaches 0 to 62 mph in 2.5 seconds while the Bugatti Chiron takes 2.4 seconds. The U9 also stunned the motoring world last year when vision of the car turning on itself (rotating on the same spot) and jump over potholes was released. And with 3020-hp, we can expect an even quicker sprint time from zero to 60mph, almost certainly undercutting 2 seconds.
For those potential buyers out there thinking, 'Hmmm, will the U9 fit into my garage,' its dimensions measure 195.5″ x 80″ x 51″, making the Yangwang U9 roughly the same size as a Lamborghini Aventador. Now as far as pricing goes, the U9 will set you back around US$233,000, which is less than half the cost of a $525,000 Ferrari Stradale, which has half the power. These comparisons were enough to prod Ferrari's CEO Benedetto Vigna to warn that surging Chinese EV markers are 'a call to action for Europe.'
Now back to the newly revealed U9 Track Edition. So what we saw last year was just a sign of things to come. Because based on a new filing at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in China, BYD is preparing to launch a new 'Track Edition' of the Yangwang U9. In the established world of sports and super cars, when an automaker releases a 'track' edition of a car, it typically employs bodykit enhancements for improved aerodynamic performance, adding downforce, and it will also fit bigger brakes.
And of course, more often than not, you will see significant power upgrades—which is what we see here. But to be bluntly honest, they will need to beef up downforce considerably to stop the U9 from getting airborne, even though the car tips the scales at hefty 2500 kgs or 5,510 lbs. From photos coming out of China, this new Track Edition appears to offer all of the above.
But what we are not seeing are explanations of how the brand plans to more than double the car's power from 1300 to 3020 hp. That's one 555 kW e-motor on each corner, a figure that translates to 3020-hp. Obviously the U9 Track Edition will employ four e-motors like its U9 brother, but to boost power by such a large amount, engineers would have to employ a higher density battery pack and higher performance e-motors. Can't wait to hear how they're going to achieve that upgrade and how much more it will cost. But expect something above $300,000.
I have driven cars with over 800-hp and they are massively scary. Even driving a hypercar that has AWD and traction control systems like the U9, you have to possess a certain amount of skill and have your wits about you to stay alive. Media were calling the $114,000 Xiaomi SU7 Ultra with 1500-hp dangerous just 6 months ago when it first appeared, but now we have a car with more than double that power.
Pundits have also been questioning the reasoning behind the power war going on in Europe that has seen a 2,300-hp Koenigsegg Gemera, a 2,000-hp Lotus Evija and a 1,914-hp Rimac Nevera land in showrooms recently for silly money — with each car demanding over $2 million.
Let's takes things back to some semblance of sanity for a moment. I, and many of my colleagues believe that this power war going on in China and elsewhere is getting out of hand. If BYD really wanted to make a super car for driving enthusiasts, then I feel they should rethink their strategy, employ a carbon fiber tub and more carbon fiber body parts, drop the power by half, reduce the amount of batteries needed and reduce the weight by 500-700 kgs. That would also make it handle better and would allow you to reduce the price. But I have a feeling that our quiet calls for sanity will fall on deaf ears.