Yangwang, BYD’s luxury sub-brand, has smashed the global production car top speed record after clocking 308.4mph (496.22km/h) at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg test track in Germany. Having set the production EV record last month, the U9 Xtreme hypercar has now become the fastest car on the planet with its latest record-breaking track run at the hands of German race driver Marc Basseng. The U9 Xtreme also gets track-level semi-slick tyres, and revised DiSus-X suspension with specific tuning to cope with the increased stresses of circuit driving. It’s terrific that the fastest production car in the world is now electric.”Basseng, a German track specialist with a long history in sports-car racing and endurance motorsport, said: “This record was only possible because the U9 Xtreme simply has incredible performance. Thanks to the electric motor, the car is quiet, there are no load changes, and that allows me to focus even more on the track.”Just 30 examples of the U9 Xtreme are being made worldwide.