BYD, a Chinese automaker, has unveiled its newest brand called YangWang and its first model, the U8, in China. The U8 is a fully electric, luxury off-road vehicle with a ladder-frame design and a quad motor layout for improved off-road capabilities.
The exterior design of the U8 appears to be influenced by the Land Rover Defender, with unique features such as LED headlights that blend with the illuminated grille, boxy fenders, squared-off wheel arches, flush door handles, a hexagonal spare wheel cover on the tailgate, and split LED taillights. While there are no interior photos available, glimpses from the windows of camouflaged prototypes during testing in China have revealed a wide digital instrument cluster and a large infotainment touchscreen.
BYD Yangwang U8 Specifications
The YangWang U8 is a new electric SUV with a ladder-frame architecture that measures 5,300 mm (208.7 inches) in length and has a wheelbase of 3,050 mm (120.1 inches). These dimensions are similar to the unibody Defender 130. The U8 is equipped with BYD’s Blade battery, but its capacity and range have not yet been revealed.
The U8 also uses the in-house developed “Yisifang” technology for its quad-motor powertrain, which will be standard on all Yangwang brand models. Each motor in the U8 produces 295-322 hp (220-240 kW / 299-326 PS) and 320-420 Nm (236-310 lb-ft) of torque, resulting in a total output of over 1,100 hp (820 kW / 1,115 PS). This power allows the large, heavy SUV to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 3 seconds. The U8 also has advanced torque vectoring functions in its electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system, which is said to be 100 times faster than a conventional system.
In addition to its impressive performance capabilities, the YangWang U8 is also capable of 360-degree tank turns and has a crab mode, which allows it to move diagonally. It also has a floating water mode enabled by its waterproof and sealed body, as well as dedicated driving modes for different off-road scenarios.
BYD Yangwang U8 Price
The company claims that the SUV can continue driving at 120 km/h (75 mph) even if one of its tires becomes flat. YangWang models are expected to be priced between ¥800,000 and ¥1,500,000 ($116,272 – 218,011), though the pricing for the U8 has not been revealed. However, Chinese media reports suggest that it will cost around ¥1,000,000 ($145,340), which is approximately half the price of an ICE-powered Mercedes G-Class, which starts at ¥1,892,000 ($274,984) in China.
BYD Yangwang U8 photos
