Chinese EV maker BYD unveiled its first new YangWang sub-brand on Thursday, which aims to compete with European luxury marques like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz
BYD unveiled its first two luxury car models, the U8 electric off-roader and U9 electric sports car. Both models are priced at over RMB 1 million ($150,000) and feature four electric motors that provide top-notch performance in extreme conditions.
The U8 and U9 electric vehicles will be built on BYD’s “Yisifang” platform, which allows them to have similar capabilities.
The U8 all-terrain, full-size SUV will have an 800 volt vehicle architecture with four electric motors, providing a combined output of over 1,000 horsepower with a rotation speed of 20,500 revolutions per minute (rpm), according to the company. The U8 electric SUV is 5,3 meters long and has a wheelbase of 3 meters.
BYD did not provide any information about the battery or range for the U8, but the company did mention that the vehicle has advanced torque vectoring and can accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3 seconds.
The U9 also utilizes the Yisifang power system found in the U8 SUV, with a quad-motor setup that delivers up to 322 hp per wheel, resulting in a total output of 1,288 hp. This allows the U9 to accelerate to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 2 seconds from a standing start.
YangWang plans to establish experience centers in Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other cities starting in the first quarter of this year. BYD has previously announced that Yangwang will have its own separate sales channel.
