BYD is now squaring up directly to one of Musk’s most famous electric cars, the Model S Plaid. BYD’s newly launched YangWang luxury division has just revealed its flagship U7, which, confusingly, was known as the U6 in the run up to the reveal. The large four-door coupe joins the U8 SUV and U9 supercar in YangWang’s electric lineup, and comes with a hefty ¥ 1 million (US$ 140,000) price.
Though exact dimensions and technical
specs for the sporty sedan aren’t yet known, YangWang has revealed that the
slippery body dreamed up by former Audi designer Wolfgang Egger has a 0.195 Cd,
making it extremely efficient. That will come in handy for maximising the electric driving range during freeway journeys, but it will
also help the U7 make the most of its circa-1,006 hp,
quad-motor electric drivetrain.
The U8 SUV also has four motors – in that
case giving 1,180 hp – but it has a 2.0-liter petrol engine
working as a range extender, a feature that’s probably not present on the new
sedan. One bit of tech the image does confirm is a lidar sensor above the
windshield which should enable Level 3 autonomous driving capability.
Visually, the U7 shares certain design
elements with some of BYD’s less expensive offerings, including the Tesla Model
3-rivalling Seal. The headlights, front DRLs and basic silhouette enjoy a clear
family connection, but while the Seal measures 4.8 m from bumper
to bumper the U7 could be 0.3 m longer.
