Bugatti-Rimac CEO waxes skeptical about China’s 3,000-hp “hypercar”

BYD’s premium vehicle sub-brand Yangwang has caused quite some ripples when it patented what appears to be a 3,019-PS track-focused version of its U9 supercar. While that’s a wild figure, even coming from four high-end electric motors, some industry experts are warning us to remain level-headed about the news.

Mate Rimac, the mind behind the award-winning Rimac Nevera and owner of the Bugatti-Rimac joint company, claims that building such a hypercar is simple – it’s realizing its full potential that’s difficult. Among other things, the 80-kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery that Yangwang uses won’t be enough to supply 550 kW of power to all four motors at once, not even for a single second.

Rimac argues that most EVs from China utilize such LFP battery packs. They are cheaper to produce and more resistant to wear than other designs, but simply cannot discharge fast enough to deliver the claimed 754.8 metric horsepower per wheel.

He also pointed out such an often-overlooked parameter as the maximum tire grip. According to him, even the currently available Nevera R model could theoretically be tuned to deliver more than its standard 2,107 PS (2,078 hp / 1,550 kW). However, it would require a complete overhaul and reinforcement of its systems. Furthermore, even if such an overhaul were to take place, tires would remain a limiting factor up until 160 km/h (100 mph).

Racing on the Papenburg Proving Ground in Germany last fall, a near-stock Yangwang U9 managed to hit 391.94 km/h (243.5 mph). It surpassed both its manufacturer-claimed top speed and the previous fastest EV on that track. Critics pointed out that it wore optimized aero, lightweight wheels, track-grade rubber and had a tuned ECU.