BYD introduced the YangWang U8, which can float on water for 30 minutes and move at a speed of 3 km/h.

BYD introduced the YangWang U8, which can float on water for 30 minutes and move at a speed of 3 km/h.

On 20 September, the YangWang U8 EREV SUV was presented in China. This is an all-wheel drive vehicle with four electric motors and a total power output of 880 kW (1,197 horsepower). The U8 can make 360° turns and float on water in emergency situations.

YangWang is a premium brand from BYD. The U8 is available in two versions - Premium Edition and Off-road Master Edition. The version that started pre-sales today is the Premium Edition, and deliveries will begin in October. Thus, this winter in Ukraine, the YangWang U8 will be available for purchase at the ECOFACTOR car dealership.

The Off-road Master model will be launched at a later date and features additional off-road accessories such as a stronger front bumper that extends to the bottom of the vehicle to protect against collisions in the wild. There is also a snorkel and a removable roof rack with a small step on the side.

The U8 Premium Edition is priced at RMB 1,089,000 (USD 150,000), making the U8 the most expensive electric vehicle mass-produced in China. Prices for the Master Off-road pre-sale version have not yet been announced, but are expected to be the same.

According to sources with knowledge of the matter, BYD is also considering launching an all-electric version next year. This will compete with Dongfeng's electric off-road superior M-Hero 917.

Features:

The YangWang U8 is a huge SUV with dimensions (L/W/H) of 5319/2050/1930 mm and a wheelbase of 3050 mm. It is 502 mm longer, 137 mm narrower and 39 mm lower than the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The wheelbase is 160 mm longer.

The vehicle is based on the E4 platform and is equipped with the Disus-P hydraulic body control system, which allows the vehicle to be raised and lowered by up to 150 mm.

Despite its large size, it is only a 5-seater and does not offer a third-row seat option. The weight is 3,985 kg and the kerb weight is 3,460 kg, based on data provided by MIIT.

The U8 is an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV), which means it has an internal combustion engine that acts as a power generator for the battery. In this case, the 2.0-litre turbo engine powers a 49.05 kWh Blade battery with LFP chemistry inside, complemented by Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) technology, which means the battery is integrated into the chassis. The range is 180 km with CLTC, and the total range with a full battery and 75-litre fuel tank is 1,000 km.

The internal combustion engine is coupled to four electric motors, each with a power output of 220 kW. The total output is 880 kW with a maximum torque of 1,280 Nm. The top speed is limited to 200 km/h and the 0-100 acceleration takes 3.6 seconds.

The U8 supports DC fast charging up to 110kW, enabling the 30% to 80% to be charged in 18 minutes. It has a 6kW power output capability for electronic devices (VTL) and can power them for up to 25 hours. So you can be sure of a fast charge for your YangWang U8 at ECOFACTOR charging stations.

At the heart of the Yangwang SUV is the Nvidia Drive Orin system-on-a-chip with 508 TOPS of processing power. 38 sensors provide data, including 3 LiDAR, 13 cameras, 12 ultrasonic radars and 5 millimetre wave radars. It supports L2 ADAS.

             

Inside the car you will find plenty of genuine Nappa leather and 6 large screens: A 23.6-inch dashboard for the driver, a 12.8-inch central control screen, and another 23.6-inch infotainment screen for the co-driver. Two more screens are installed for the rear passengers in the rear seats, and the final LCD screen is located on the console between the rear seats. There is also a 50-inch head-up display (HUD) and 22 Dynaudio speakers.

The U8 also has some not-so-common car technology, such as a thermographic camera and a built-in satellite phone. Both versions of the U8 have spare tyres.

Running and swimming mode

Just like any good off-roader, the U8 can handle mud. The Premium Edition version can ford at a maximum depth of 1000 mm, and the Off-road Master Edition can ford up to 1400 mm thanks to the tube.

When the fording mode is activated, the vehicle will use its sensors to monitor the environment, water depth, wheel slip and so on. Emergency Swim Mode is activated automatically when the vehicle goes deeper than the safety limits.

When the internal combustion engine is activated, it will immediately shut down, the Disus-P will raise the suspension to its maximum level, the windows will automatically close, the air conditioning will switch to internal circulation and the sunroof will open to provide an emergency exit. In addition, the vehicle will display the water depth and position on the central control screen.

The U8 can stay afloat for 30 minutes and move forward at a speed of 3 km/h by accelerating and turning its wheels. It can even perform tank turns while floating. BYD emphasises that this is only for emergencies such as floods and not for fun crossing lakes and rivers. Interestingly, in their marketing materials, the U8 floats on water in such situations. After activating the emergency floating mode, the car must be taken to a service centre for inspection. BYD claims that the U8 is IP68 waterproof.

Direct sales model

During the presentation, Yangwang announced that they will focus on a direct sales model. They are building 60 stores in 40 cities and plan to open 90 stores by the end of the year. A similar strategy is being used by BYD with its second brand, Fang Cheng Bao, which has recently started to take over the stores and showrooms of premium brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin or Maserati. Unlike Yangwang and Fang Cheng Bao, BYD uses a standard dealer model for its BYD-branded vehicles.

Editor's comment

BYD has never produced a premium electric car, and the YangWang U8 is their most expensive car ever and one of the most expensive cars in China. The goal is obvious: BYD needs to increase its profits, and budget electric cars like the best-selling Seagull and Dolphin cannot help. Thus, new sub-brands are coming to the rescue: YangWang, Fang Cheng Bao and Denza.

"We must develop advanced technology to compete with luxury brands," said Wang Chuanfu, founder and CEO of BYD, and continued: "Technological innovation is our only opportunity to lead the change."

BYD has always dreamed of creating a high-end luxury car. However, there are also doubts. Will customers buy a premium car from a brand that has historically focused on affordable mid-range cars? BYD will undergo market testing, and we will soon see the result. Judging by the excitement that the U8 has generated in the Chinese media and the technology that looks great on paper, BYD's starting position is more than favourable. You can also expect the YangWang U8 in Ukraine at the ECOFACTOR showroom.