BYD’s newest brand called YangWang launched its first model in China, a fully electric ladder-frame luxury off-roader. The new Yangwang U8 combines rugged looks with a quad motor layout and sophisticated technology assisting with its off-road capabilities The silhouette of the new U8 looks to be heavily inspired by the Land Rover Defender, although the styl ng is unique to the YangWang brand. Notable features include the LED headlights that merge with the illuminated grille, the boxy fenders and squared-off wheel arches over 20-inch alloy wheels, the flush door handles, the hexagonal spare wheel cover on the tailgate and the futuristic split LED taillights.
Unfortunately, there are no shots of the
interior, but a peak from the windows of camouflaged prototypes during testing
in China showed a wide digital instrument cluster and a large infotainment
touchscreen. The new electric SUV, which is based on a ladder-frame
architecture, measures 5,300 mm long and has a wheelbase of
3,050 mm, figures comparable with the unibody Defender 130. The
YangWang U8 comes fitted with BYD’s Blade battery but we have yet to learn its
capacity and estimated range figures. The U8 also makes use of the in-house
developed “Yisifang” technology for the quad-motor powertrain, which will be
standard equipment for all models of the Yangwang brand.
In the U8, each motor produces 295-322 hp and 320-420 Nm of torque, resulting
in a combined output of over 1,100 hp. The monstrous
combined power output allows the large and heavyweight SUV to accelerate from
0-100 km/h in 3 seconds flat. It also brings advanced torque
vectoring functions to the electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system
which is said to be 100 times faster than a conventional one.
In addition, the company says the U8 is
capable of doing 360-degree tank turns, and has a crab mode, a floating water
mode made possible by the waterproof and sealed body, plus dedicated driving
modes for different off-roading scenarios, expanding its capabilities off the
beaten track. The company also says that the SUV will be able to keep driving
at 120 km/h (75 mph) even in the event of a flat tire.
BYD has revealed that YangWang models will
be priced between ¥ 800,000 and ¥ 1,500,000 (US$ 116,272 – 218,011). The company
didn’t reveal pricing for the U8 but Chinese media report it will cost around
¥ 1,000,000 (US$ 145,340). This is almost half-price compared to an ICE-powered Mercedes
G-Class which starts from ¥ 1,892,000 (US$ 274,984) in China.
