With some really interesting cars on offer from BYD, now there is even more to look at. YANGWANG is a new luxury sub-brand under BYD, sort of like how Toyota has Lexus, or how DS is able to separate itself from Citroen, allowing BYD to compete with the priciest of European luxury cars.
Recently, I was invited by the kind folks at Stratstone – one of the official BYD dealers here in the UK – down to their Birmingham showroom to check out what BYD’s higher-end YANGWANG brand has been working on. What greeted me were two very eye-catching cars… The YANGWANG U8 plug-in hybrid off-roader SUV, and the YANGWANG U9 EV hypercar. Before you get too excited, no, they’re not for sale here, but here’s hoping.
A Unique Aesthetic To Set It Apart
For now, we’ll focus mainly on the U8, specifically the Premium Edition model, which from the get-go, does seem like it’s been built from the ground up to take on the Land Rover Defender and the Mercedes G-Wagon. You could even argue that the design language of the YANGWANG U8 does take a lot of inspiration from the iconic off-roading duo, with their trademark boxiness and gruff, muscular looks.
As huge and bulky as the U8 might appear in the pictures, I can confirm that it really is that gargantuan in person, too. That said, it does have a strong presence about it wherever you go, so as far as luxury off-roader SUVs go, that’s one box in the checklist ticked. You might also be able to spot some of the clever driving aids from the outside as well, from the LIDAR sensors, and the U8 is even able to park itself.
Still, while the U8 might feature the same-ish looks as some other off-roaders out there, there are still some unique BYD design elements that set it apart. You’ve got that old-school silhouette, mixed with ample amounts of bling, chrome, and new-age LEDs that give the U8 an opulent touch. I mean, the U8 Premium Edition starts from 1,098,000 RMB – or the equivalent of around £120,000 here in the UK – so it should probably at least look the part of a super-expensive, decadent SUV.
Cocooning You In Supreme Opulence
Stepping inside the YANGWANG U8, it definitely feels and smells expensive, with a sea of soft leather, and enough creature comforts to keep even the pickiest of buyers satisfied. There are massage seats, no less than three wireless charging pads for your phone, a 22-speaker surround audio system, a very impressive 12.8-inch infotainment system, and there’s even a smaller display on the passenger side.
With this, you can just sit back and watch your favourite Asian dramas on TV to your heart’s content. There are actually two of these 23.6-inch screens, with the other serving as your digital gauge cluster. It’s not merely form over function either, as the U8 offers a good bit of practicality. Further in the back, there’s a vast boot, and it’s even softly carpeted, with more hidden storage underneath the boot floor.
Speaking of, underneath all this, you might be expecting an all-electric powertrain, which is what BYD is famous for. But instead, you’d be surprised to learn that the YANGWANG U8 is a plug-in hybrid. Granted, it’s quite a bit different than other conventional hybrids, as the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine isn’t connected to the U8’s wheels. In other words, it functions only as a range extender (aka a generator) for the battery pack.
A Unique Set-Up Among Hybrids
Therefore, propulsion is courtesy of four massive, powerful electric motors, giving you all-wheel drive. These are all a part of BYD’s e4 Platform, where you have four independently controlled motors, with torque vectoring for each one. It even features safeguards to keep this monstrous thing stable in the event of a tyre blowout in your humongous U8. This kind of hybridised set-up actually makes sense for the U8, when you think about it.
I’d reckon it’d be hard to find an EV charging station if you’re off-roading somewhere remote. Additionally, you are then able to truly go the distance with the BYD YANGWANG U8, as it features an outrageous – in a good way, mind – driving range that’s close to 1,000km, on a full tank. The U8 also comes with V2L (vehicle to load), so in a pinch, you can just use your fancy new U8 as a giant battery bank.
On top of that, despite not being an EV, the U8 features DC fast charging – which I can’t say I’ve seen in many other plug-in hybrid vehicles – up to 110kW. This means you’re able to top up the U8’s battery pack from 30% to 80% in just 18 minutes, according to BYD. Of course, this battery has all the wonderous tech and engineering that you’ll find on other BYD vehicles, including their EVs, so it’s a good set of cells that you’re working with.
Enough Power To Rotate The Earth
Now, if you really do want to deplete your fuel reserves quickly, then worry not, because the YANGWANG U8’s four electric motors have a whopping combined output of 1,200hp. This allows the U8, a beast of an off-road SUV, to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.6 seconds – faster than many sports cars. Besides that, you actually might be able to drive this thing really hard, thanks to BYD’s DiSus Intelligent Body Control System.
This is their fancy way of calling an active anti-roll system, though it’s a bit more comprehensive than that. As such, and given how vast the U8 is, this might help with reducing the risk of rollovers, not to mention keeping you in place under hard acceleration or cornering. One cool party trick with the U8’s four electric motors is how you’re able to do a tank turn. It basically lets the massive U8 turn 360 degrees, within its own length.
It’d be easier to explain it with a video instead of wording it, though:
I can see this being useful if you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place in the middle of the outback, or more realistically, if you’re trying to get yourself out of a really tight parking space. Now that should do it. However, gimmicks aside, there are a lot of handy, off-road-focused kit on the BYD YANGWANG U8. For example, if for whatever reason you’ve driven yourself into a flooded area, are wading through a deep river, or were caught up in a flash flood, the U8 can actually float!
A Part-Time Boat (If Needed)
That said, in an emergency, the U8 turns into a car-boat, and it could stay afloat on the water – while keeping you dry and warm inside – for up to 30 minutes. The wheels can still turn, sort of like paddles, to move you along slowly and gently. Again, it’s just sad that we’re not getting this in the UK, or anywhere outside of the Chinese market, but I can only hope that with enough interest, they might make their way here.
With the YANGWANG brand in full force, BYD is now ready and waiting to take on the very best of what the West has to offer, though they’re only focusing on the Chinese market for the time being. That’s unfortunate, because they do have some very unique new cars, and I’d reckon they’ll give brands like BMW, Mercedes, and Audi a run for their money. Hopefully, I’ll be able to properly drive and test out the U8 further down the line.
