The Year of the Hypercars: Yangwang and Ferrari Set New Benchmarks

The TopGear.com Awards 2026 have delivered one message loud and clear: performance is rewriting the rule book. Two brands dominated headlines for very different reasons. Yangwang raised eyebrows with raw speed from an all-electric hypercar, while Ferrari reminded the world why its badge remains the pinnace of supercar prestige.

Together, they signal that the future of extreme performance is arriving fast – and it is more diverse than ever.

Yangwang U9 Xtreme: When Records Fall at 308.4mph

Yangwang’s U9 Xtreme stunned the industry in September when it secured the record for the fastest production car on the planet, hitting 308.4mph at Germany’s ATP Papenburg test track.

TopGear has now crowned that feat “Moment of the Year”, calling it a milestone that has “sent shockwaves around the automotive world.”

A Hypercar With No Interest in Half Measures

The U9 Xtreme builds from the already-formidable U9, but “more” is the philosophy throughout:

• More power – over 3,000hp
• More voltage – a switch from 800V to 1,200V
• More force – four ultra-high-speed motors capable of 30,000rpm
• More grip and control – a specially tuned DiSus-X suspension and track-grade semi-slick tyres

The result is a power-to-weight ratio of 1,217hp per tonne, another global record.

Marc Basseng, one of motorsport’s most respected high-speed specialists, took the driving seat. Days before the 308.4mph run, he secured 304.1mph – then pushed the car even further. He also lapped the Nürburgring in 6m 59.157sec, breaking the seven-minute barrier for electric super sports cars.

Production will be limited to 30 examples worldwide, cementing it as one of the most exclusive hypercars ever offered.

Ferrari makes it a double: F80 and 296 Speciale Take Top Awards

While Yangwang claimed the headlines on outright speed, Ferrari collected two of the most coveted trophies of the ceremony.

• Ferrari F80 – “Hypercar of the Year”
• Ferrari 296 Speciale – “Supercar of the Year”

This marks Ferrari’s 21st TopGear award in 23 years, and its eighth Supercar of the Year trophy – proof that Maranello has no interest in resting on history.

Ferrari F80: Engineering With Purpose

Limited to 799 units, the F80 draws knowledge from F1 and endurance racing. It sits alongside icons like the F40 and LaFerrari and represents the sharpest evolution of Ferrari performance to date.

Drivers and reviewers highlight its character in motion rather than on paper. From the cabin it “snorts, fizzes, shrieks and roars” according to TopGear’s Jethro Bovingdon. It offers explosive capability yet remains predictable, intuitive and usable – an extremely difficult balance for cars of this magnitude.

Ferrari 296 Speciale: Precision for Drivers Who Love to Drive

The 296 Speciale takes the lineage of Ferrari “special series” berlinettas and evolves it with more connection, more control and more feel.

It is track-focused but usable every day. Silverstone and then a long drive home does not sound unreasonable, says TopGear’s Jason Barlow.

Ferrari’s Gianmaria Fulgenzi accepted the awards and emphasised the shared goal behind both cars: the relentless pursuit of the most ambitious performance objectives.

Why These Cars Matter – Beyond Awards

• The U9 Xtreme shows electric hypercars are no longer chasing combustion rivals – they are passing them.
• Ferrari demonstrates that analogue emotion and digital control can co-exist beautifully.
• The market now offers two extreme visions of performance:
  pure electric power vs refined combustion mastery.

Choice has never been more exciting for supercar fans.

Final Thoughts

The U9 Xtreme and the Ferrari F80 take completely different paths to hypercar greatness, yet both pushed performance into new territory. On one hand, one did it through electric force and scientific precision. On the other hand, the other did it through emotion, heritage, and razor-sharp engineering.

Which approach speaks to you – the futuristic power of the U9 Xtreme, or the visceral intensity of the Ferrari F80 and 296 Speciale? Do you think electric hypercars will define the next decade, or will combustion still lead for pure driving experience?

Share your thoughts below – the debate has never been more exciting.

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