BYD isn’t content with simply selling affordable EVs and plug-in hybrids to the masses. Through its high-end Denza brand, the company is out to challenge Europe’s luxury carmakers, with vice president Stella Li even claiming its vehicles are “ten times better” than those from Porsche and BMW.

Read: BYD Boss Brags Z9 GT Is ‘Ten Times Better’ Than Premium Euro Rivals

Well, those words will soon be put to the ultimate test as Denza is preparing a new sports car targeting the likes of the upcoming Porsche 718 Electric and even the 911.

The upcoming model, known simply as the Z, has already been spotted at the Nürburgring, where a prototype of the all-electric coupe is undergoing testing. The question now is, what exactly can we expect from it?

Denza has been working on this sports model for quite some time, and earlier this year, unveiled it in concept guise. This prototype, despite the camouflage, looks virtually identical to the show car, which is a good thing.

It may not be the most beautiful two-door sports car on the market, but it definitely looks unique and should pack some serious performance.

Concept Car Looks

From a visual standpoint, the front end includes two large air intakes, a small central grille, and LED headlights. There’s also a prominent front splitter to aid in the aerodynamics, as well as a pair of small aero flaps below the bumper. Viewed from the side, the Z looks quite long and has Porsche RS-like louvers on the front wheel arches.

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These spyshots also show it sitting on a set of sticky GitiSport GTR3 semi-slick tires, measuring a massive 325/30 at the rear and 275/35 at the front. Clearly, Denza is targeting top-notch performance, necessitating the use of semi-slick tires like these.

The rear of the car is the most intriguing. It features a massive fixed rear wing, a prominent diffuser housed within the bumper, and LED taillights.

What’s Underneath?

Many important technical details about the Z remain under wraps. Denza never specified what kind of powertrain the concept had, but local media speculates the production model will feature a triple-motor system.

The existing Z9 GT already uses this setup and delivers 952 hp. Some sources had suggested power for the Z would be capped at 536 hp, but we’d be surprised if Denza wanted its sleek estate to have more power than its first proper sports car.

If the Z has upwards of 900 hp, it’ll probably be able to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3 seconds or less. But, as evidenced by it being tested at the Nurburgring, it won’t just be about straight-line performance. This prototype has a massive set of brakes and will also include Denza’s trick suspension system.

This setup will include a double-wishbone setup at the front with magnetorheological shocks that can change the damping force in 10ms. We have no doubt this will work wonders on a demanding circuit like the Nordschleife.

A Tech-Focused Cabin

The cabin of the Denza Z should be similar to the concept. That likely means a digital instrument cluster, a central infotainment screen, and a small display for the passenger. There will also be loads of plush Alcantara and leather to ensure it has a really premium feel.

Stephen Hancock

There’s a new name at the very top of the production car speed charts, and it doesn’t come from Europe, Japan or America. Instead, it’s BYD’s YangWang brand that has grabbed headlines. Not long after the YangWang U9 Track Edition set an electric car top speed record, the hypercar returned with a new name, the U9 Xtreme, and delivered something extraordinary. On its latest run, it reached 308.4 mph, or 496.22 km/h.

The vmax was achieved at the ATP Papenburg high-speed oval in Germany with Marc Basseng behind the wheel. Because since the record was only logged in a single direction, SSC’s Tuatara still retains the official two-way average title at 282.9 mph (455.3 km/h), at least for now.

Taking On The Big Guns

Even with that caveat, the numbers are remarkable. The U9 Xtreme eclipsed the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, which Andy Wallace drove to 304.77 mph (490.48 km/h) in 2019, also in a one-way run. For a Chinese EV to edge past one of the most revered European hypercars marks a significant milestone in itself.

Read: BYD’s Track-Focused Hypercar Beats Rimac As The World’s Fastest EV

High power is one of the key reasons behind the U9 Xtreme’s monumental top speed. It features four electric motors that combine to produce 2,978 hp, more than double the 1,288 hp output of the regular U9. It is also the first production car to feature a 1,200-volt platform and has significantly denser batteries than all other BYD models.

Production will be extremely limited, with just 30 cars scheduled to be built. Pricing remains under wraps, but it is unlikely BYD will struggle to find buyers for a machine with this kind of performance and bragging rights.

Flat-Out At Papenburg

An onboard clip shows the electric hypercar on its way to the record top speed. Basseng drove around the sloped curve of the oval at over 186 mph (300 km/h) before pinning the throttle and gaining speed at a truly shocking pace. The car roars past 280 mph (450 km/h) and 292 mph (470 km/h) with ease and doesn’t even appear to break a sweat reaching 308 mph (496 km/h).

It appears likely the car could have breezed past 310.6 mph (500 km/h), but Basseng had to lift off the throttle and jump on the brakes as the car started to drift towards the left-hand barrier next to the track.

A Nurburgring Record Too

It’s not just the top speed of the YangWang U9 Xtreme that’s impressive. BYD has also confirmed it has lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 6:59.157, snatching the EV production car record away from the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra that lapped the circuit in 7:04.957 earlier this year.

Although Porsche just scaled back some of its electric vehicle ambitions, even reworking its upcoming flagship SUV above the Cayenne from a purely electric project into a gas and hybrid model at launch, its existing EV lineup is still moving forward. Key among them are the Cayenne EV.

More: Porsche’s EV Plans Collapse, Flagship SUV To Launch With Gas Instead

The question of how much appetite exists for an all-electric Cayenne remains open, but Porsche has been steadily developing this model with a planned market launch for 2026. Available in both SUV and Coupe forms, the lineup is also expected to feature an ultra high-performance variant with the legendary Turbo badge. Of course, in an EV there are no turbos in sight, but Porsche seems perfectly happy to let marketing trump mechanics.

Winged And Widened

Several prototypes of the electric Cayenne have been snapped testing by our spy photographers in recent months, but these ones nabbed being put through their paces at the Nurburgring are a little different.

The most obvious changes between these testers, and others seen recently, can be found at the rear. Porsche’s engineers have added a fixed rear wing to the decklid, no doubt helping to produce some downforce over the rear wheels. While it isn’t as large as the one found on the Taycan Turbo GT, it does add some extra sportiness to the Cayenne. The rear bumper also features new aerodynamic elements, while the arches appear more aggressively flared.

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There are also some unique elements at the front half. These include vents on the quarter panels and a new bumper, partially hidden by some temporary black parts.

Big Numbers Beneath The Body

Porsche has already confirmed that the electric Cayenne will produce over 1,000 hp. Presumably, that figure will be reserved for the flagship model pictured here, potentially using either the Turbo or Turbo GT badge. All models, including this halo version, are expected to use the same 113 kWh NMC battery pack from LG that supports charging speeds of up to 400 kW.

Not only will the Cayenne EV launch with wireless charging capabilities, but when plugged into a DC fast charging, it’s battery can be topped up from 10-80 percent in just 16 minutes. Porsche is said to be targeting a range of at least 370 miles (595 km).

Read: The Cayenne EV Coupe Shows Porsche Isn’t Done With Surprises

Carscoops understands that horsepower levels will vary significantly across the range. Entry-level versions will start at approximately 400 hp, while mid-range versions should deliver between 600 hp and 700 horses.

Stephen Hancock

Xiaomi may be a relatively new player in the automotive space, but it’s already proven to be one of the most innovative and popular new car brands in China. Not only have the SU7 sedan and YU7 crossover been selling like hot cakes, but Xiaomi has laid the smackdown on Porsche and Rimac with the SU7 Ultra, and soon, the YU7 will get a high-performance trim of its own.

Expected to be carry the YU7 GT badge, the new model was recently snapped by our spy photographers testing at the Nurburgring. Xiaomi did not bother hiding the crossover under thick body cladding, instead opting for a simple skin-tight white and red camouflage wrap.

Read: A 60-Week Waitlist Just Made Xiaomi’s SUV A Flippers Goldmine

At first glance, the changes look subtle. The front fascia seems untouched compared with the standard YU7, but closer inspection reveals flared front and rear fenders that allow for a broader track and larger wheels. The test car rolls on Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires, which have been designed specifically for hypercars and supercars. Clearly, the YU7 GT is going to be fast, and it’s going to be powerful.

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Hiding behind the wheels sit oversized carbon ceramic brakes with bright yellow calipers, a setup that promises the stopping power to match the expected surge in performance.

The Powertrain

The current Xiaomi SU7 Ultra uses three electric motors to deliver a combined 1,526 hp and 1,306 lb-ft (1,770 Nm) of torque, giving it way more power than the 1,019 hp of the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. There’s no word on whether the YU7 GT crossover will have the same extraordinary amount of power as the SU7 Ultra sedan, but it will almost certainly use a similar tri-motor system and punch out more than 1,000 horses.

If that’s the case, then we expect to see the YU7 GT knock off the Audi RS Q8 Performance as the fastest SUV to ever lap the ‘Ring. To do so, it’ll need to post a time of less than 7:36.698. Either way, Xiaomi looks intent on proving it belongs in the fast lane of performance SUVs.

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The market for premium all-electric SUVs is continuing to swell and with BMW, Mercedes, and Audi already selling multiple, the folks over at Jaguar Land Rover simply had to respond. In addition to working on an electric version of the full-sized Range Rover, the smaller Range Rover Velar is getting an electric overhaul and it’s already being tested on the Nurburgring.

This prototype may be covered in camouflage, but it’s clear that the overall shape of the Velar EV will be similar to the existing ICE-powered model. Given that the current model is already quite good-looking, Land Rover (wisely) chose not to mess with its design too much.

As such, the front end looks very familiar, complete with thin headlights and blacked-out areas where the front grille and air intakes sit on the combustion Velar.

Read: The Electric Range Rover Is Getting A Little Brother

It’s unclear whether Land Rover will make any major changes to the SUV’s front end. Since electric vehicles don’t need an engine to cool, a traditional grille and large air intakes are largely unnecessary, yet the prototype suggests a grille of some sort will remain, likely a solid black panel. At the center sits a small forward-facing camera, used by the vehicle’s safety and driver-assist systems.

There’s also some interesting stuff going on with the rear half of the prototype. There are some lumps and bumps around the C- and D-pillars, but we expect a more refined rear for the production model.

Powertrain Predictions

Little is known about the EV’s powertrain. We know the larger Range Rover EV will have a massive 117 kWh battery pack, but that’s far too big for the smaller Velar. Instead, something in the range of 85 – 100 kWh seems more likely.

It’s also safe to assume it’ll utilize two electric motors in order to sport all-wheel drive. There’s even a possibility it could out-muscle the current SVAutobiography Dynamic, which uses a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 and has 542 hp and 502 lb-ft (681 Nm).

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It’s been less than a month after the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X crushed the Ford Mustang GTD’s lap time at the Nurburgring, but it hasn’t taken the Blue Oval long to one-up its rival. However, rather than attempting a new record for the GTD, Ford took to the ‘Ring with its wild Transit SuperVan 4.2, setting a time that puts some supercars to shame, including the ZR1X.

Ford says it was inspired by a famous segment from Top Gear when taking the SuperVan 4.2 to Green Hell. In the show’s fifth season, Sabine Schmitz coached Jeremy Clarkson around the circuit in a Jaguar S-Type Diesel, attempting to set a sub-10-minute lap time.

She later proclaimed she’d be able to lap the circuit in less than 10 minutes in a Ford Transit, and in Top Gear’s sixth season, recorded an impressive time of 10:08.

Read: Mustang GTD Shatters Its Own ‘Ring Record by Over 5 Seconds

While the SuperVan 4.2 may have ‘Transit’ in its name, it shares nothing in common with the road-going model. With Romain Dumas behind the wheel, who recently took out top honors at the Goodwood Festival of Speed with the F-150 Lightning Supertruck, the SuperVan 4.2 set a best time of 6:48.393.

Where Does The SuperVan Rank?

This places it ninth among non-road-legal prototypes that have lapped the circuit, although it’s well behind the VW ID.R in terms of outright EV records, which lapped the track in just 6:05.336 back in 2019.

More importantly, the SuperVan 4.2’s time edged out the Corvette ZR1X’s best time of 6:49.275 and the standard Corvette ZR1 with its 6:50.763. It is also quicker than the Mustang GTD that put in a 6:52.072 time.

The Ford has also managed to outperform some other impressive supercars, such as the Lamborghini Huracan Performante, Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, and Porsche 918 Spyder.

Admittedly, this doesn’t mean much as this is a bespoke one-off that has three electric motors and delivers 1,400 hp. It was also running on slick tires during its Nurburgring run. So no, no one will ever be able to helm anything close to it whether on road or track since it’s an one-off created by Ford just for fun – and grabbing headlines.

Ford SuperVan 4.2 at Bathurst