The BYD Yangwang U8 is the biggest SUV on sale at the BYD Headquarters in Pingshan, China
We recently visited the BYD Headquarters in Pingshan, China and were given a closer look at some of their latest vehicles that are all produced in LEFT HAND DRIVE only for now.
With a huge domestic market available (China) and fast growing Middle East and European markets (which are all LEFT HAND DRIVE) BYD is ready to take on the markets once dominated by strong combustion engine powered brands like General Motors, Stellantis, BMW and even the Volkswagen Group.
So, this large SUV that is sized very close to the all new Land Rover Defender and Hyundai Palisade is priced in China at about USD160,000 which is about RM710,000k before logistics and dealer margins are added on.
Interestingly, the very large Yangwang U8 luxury vehicle has four electric motors (one in each wheel) that produces 1184 horsepower which allows the U8 driver to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds.
This luxury SUV is from BYD’s sub-brand Yangwang. Just like Toyota has a luxury sub-brand Lexus and Honda has Acura.
Interestingly, BYD’s Yangwang sits on their all new e4 Platform.
The e4 Platform is the first mass-produced four-motor independent drive technology platform in China, which is designed to guarantee leading-class level safety for customers.
Compared with conventional fuel vehicles’ powertrain, it can precisely adjust the dynamics of the four wheels thanks to the four-motor independent vector control.
Meanwhile, all vehicles equipped with the e4 Platform will also adopt IP68-rated waterproof and body sealing technology to allow the vehicles to float on the water through the four-wheel independent vector controlling, showing far greater potential for the application of dynamics technology compared with conventional fuel vehicles.
Besides safety, the e4 Platform also offers ultimate performance and driving experience. It has delivered a maximum speed of 20,500 rpm and an output of horsepower exceeding 1,100, enabling the vehicles to run in various conditions including on streets, off-road, and on racetracks.
Not long ago, a Yangwang test vehicle equipped with the e4 Platform succeeded in the challenge of slope climbing tests in the Alashan desert, fully demonstrating the immense potential of the e4 Platform in four-wheel grip control.
With the e4 Platform, the vehicle can perform a 360-degree tank turn on highly-adhesive pavements such as tarmac, with the use of the highly integrated electric motor developed in house.
Thanks to the independent positive and negative torque output capabilities, even if the steering and brakes are not working, the e4 Platform allows the vehicle to brake from 100 km/h in less than 40 meters and to steer in less than 12 meters, making the full-size SUV as flexible as A0-class cars.
Offering robust vehicle safety for the customers is in the blood of BYD and Yangwang, and its e4 Platform has further enriched BYD’s “four-in-one” safety system that guarantees the safety of battery’s raw materials, battery cells, battery packs, and vehicles, and well-positioned Yangwang in the high-end market with its core technical strengths.
