BYD has been increasing its dominance in the global electric car sector by introducing several new sub-brands to cater to specialized markets. The company has established Denza, a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz, Fang Cheng Bao, an off-road brand, and Yangwang, a luxury automobile brand, as part of this strategy.
Yangwang is the most renowned of these brands internationally. This is due to BYD’s aggressive efforts to promote Yangwang automobiles at international events like the 2024 Bangkok Motor Show in order to build their image.
BYD Yangwang U8 has an immediate effect due to its striking combination of angularity, strength, and modernity. Photo credit: Lee Hoàng
BYD chose the Yangwang U8 SUV, which debuted at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show, to be their global ambassador. At significant auto shows, previews, and exhibitions across Europe and Asia, the BYD Yangwang U8 has wowed audiences with its design, features, and especially its performance statistics.
Additionally, this is Yangwang’s most widely available “mass-market” vehicle. Above the U8 is the U9, but that is a hypercar.
Supercar-like performance, advanced technology that is both useful and practical
The BYD Yangwang U8 will likely face off against the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and the Land Rover Defender. With its amazing statistics, the Yangwang U8 undoubtedly outperforms these vehicles, at least in theory.
To be specific, the Yangwang U8’s powertrain uses four electric motors to produce a combined 1,180 horsepower and 1,280 Nm of torque. The four motors are dispersed across the four wheels, resulting in a four-wheel-drive system and complete independent agility for each wheel. As a result, the BYD Yangwang U8 is capable of 360-degree on-the-spot turns, similar to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class electric’s G-Turn technology.
Unlike many other off-road SUVs, the BYD Yangwang U8 still features a spare tire, especially in a high-end SUV like this one. Photo credit: Lee Hoàng
The BYD Yangwang U8 is also known for its exceptional deep-water wading capability. The regular model can wade through water up to a meter deep, while the Off-road Master Edition can wade up to 1.4 meters with the help of a snorkel.
The BYD Yangwang U8 has a unique self-protection system called Yachting Mode in case it encounters water that is deeper than the aforementioned levels. The car will immediately raise its chassis, turn off the engine, switch the air conditioning to recirculation, close the windows but open the sunroof (to allow occupants to escape), and float for up to 30 minutes at a “drifting” speed of 3 km/h, thanks to built-in sensors. From there, it will be able to reach safety.
A design inspired by Land Rover
The BYD Yangwang U8 has a geometric style with modern touches. It has a body style that is extremely similar to the newest Land Rover Defender.
Despite the overall Defender resemblance, the BYD Yangwang U8 has several distinguishing design cues, such as the distinctive headlight design. Photo credit: Lee Hoàng
The BYD Yangwang U8 has dimensions of 5.319 x 2.050 x 1.930mm and a wheelbase of 3.050mm. The advanced hydraulic suspension system allows for a simple 150mm adjustment of the ride height. The vehicle weighs approximately 4 tons overall. The claimed maximum range of this big SUV is around 1,000km despite its significant weight because of the 2.0L engine, which functions as a generator in the front.
Truly luxurious interior
The inside of the BYD Yangwang U8 is essentially a collection of screens. The higher-end models have three big displays, measuring 23.6 inches, 12.8 inches, and 23.6 inches from left to right. Two individual entertainment screens are also located in the back seats, and the center armrest has a built-in control panel.
The three-screen arrangement with its central vertical screen and two enormous horizontal screens on each side will probably cause many people to draw parallels to the Hyperscreen in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Photo credit: Lee Hoàng
Notable features include Nappa leather seats, Sapele wood accents, three wireless high-speed phone chargers, a 22-speaker entertainment system, a 70-inch HUD (that uses the whole front windshield as its backdrop), 10-way power adjustable heated stone massage seats, a perfume dispenser, and even a refrigerator.
Despite its enormous size, the BYD Yangwang U8 only has five seats by default; there is no third row to maximize cabin space. Photo credit: Lee Hoàng
The BYD Yangwang U8’s starting price in China is 1,098,000 NDT, or about 3.7 billion VND. Compared to other high-end SUVs, this price is not inexpensive, but given its opulent features, it might be considered a “affordable super SUV.”
