Chinese automaker BYD’s premium brand, Yangwang, has unveiled a groundbreaking electric concept car and a high-performance supercar platform at the Guangzhou Auto Show, showcasing some of its most advanced technologies.
The concept car is based on BYD’s e⁴ technology, featuring an innovative approach with no traditional steering or brakes. The e⁴ integrates drive, brake, and steering functions, allowing the vehicle to brake and steer without relying on traditional mechanical systems. Yangwang emphasizes the safety redundancy provided by this quad-motor independent drive technology, ensuring basic driving capability even if only a single motor is operational.
Each motor in the concept car boasts a power output ranging from 220 kW to 240 kW, enabling precise control for braking deceleration of up to 1 G. Steering is achieved by recognizing the driver’s intent through the steering wheel angle, allowing for a steering experience similar to traditional systems.
In addition to the concept car, Yangwang introduced a supercar platform, part of the Yangwang Architecture, leveraging BYD’s two decades of technology accumulation in new energy vehicles (NEVs). The supercar platform promises extreme performance, enhanced safety features, luxurious design, and an intelligent driving experience. The platform’s first model, the Yangwang U9, offers over 1,300 horsepower and exceptional torsional stiffness of 54,425 N-m/°.
With an investment in over 100 safety test vehicles for the supercar platform, Yangwang has subjected them to testing in 96 safety conditions, showcasing the brand’s commitment to ensuring robust safety standards. Ongoing testing and development efforts are underway for the supercar platform.
The Yangwang brand, introduced by BYD in January, is built on the e⁴ technology platform, and the entire future model lineup is expected to be based on this innovative platform. The Yangwang U8, the brand’s inaugural production vehicle, has been officially launched, with deliveries set to commence later this month. While the Yangwang U9 supercar was announced in January, its official launch is yet to be confirmed, with the interior being revealed for the first time at the Guangzhou Auto Show.
