YangWang U8 - electric car that can swim like a boat costs 150,000 USD

CHINA The SUV can float on water for 30 minutes and glide at a speed of 3 km/h.

On September 20, YangWang - the luxury electric car brand of BYD - launched the U8 in China. The SUV is equipped with 4 electric motors with 4-wheel drive system, with a capacity of 1,197 horsepower. U8 also has the ability to rotate in place and float on the water in an emergency.

U8 has two versions: Premium Edition and Off-road Master Edition. The Premium version will be sold first and will be delivered to customers next October.

The Off-road Master will go on sale later and has additional off-road features, but a more aggressive and elongated front bumper, a snorkel and roof rack, and side steps for easy access. Climb to the roof.

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The U8 is quite massive in size, with a length of 5,319 mm, a width of 2,050 mm, a height of 1,930 mm and a wheelbase of 3,050 mm.

U8 has two versions: Premium Edition and Off-road Master Edition.

The car in the photo is the Off-road Master version with a snorkel and side steps to climb to the roof.

Compared to the Mercedes G-class, the U8 is 502 mm longer, 137 mm narrower and 39 mm lower, and the wheelbase is 160 mm longer.

In fact, the U8 is an EREV (extended electric vehicle) electric vehicle, meaning an internal combustion engine acts as a generator for the battery. In this case a 2.0 turbo powering a 49.05 kWh LFP battery pack.

The vehicle is developed on the e4 platform with the Disus-P hydraulic body control system, allowing the height to be increased or lowered by up to 150 mm.

with 6 screens: 23.6-inch digital clock, 12.8-inch center console screen, 23.6-inch infotainment screen in front of the passenger seat, and two other screens for the seats rear, same LCD control screen in the armrest.

There is also an information display system on the 50-inch windshield and a 22-speaker Dynaudio system.

And a mini refrigerator.

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The U8 is quite massive in size, with a length of 5,319 mm, a width of 2,050 mm, a height of 1,930 mm and a wheelbase of 3,050 mm.

The U8 is quite massive in size, with a length of 5,319 mm, a width of 2,050 mm, a height of 1,930 mm and a wheelbase of 3,050 mm. Compared to the Mercedes G-class, the U8 is 502 mm longer, 137 mm narrower and 39 mm lower, and the wheelbase is 160 mm longer.

But the U8 also only has 5 seats, and there is no third row option. Total weight is 3,985 kg. The vehicle is developed on the e4 platform with the Disus-P hydraulic body control system, allowing the height to be increased or lowered by up to 150 mm.

In fact, the U8 is an EREV (extended electric vehicle) electric vehicle, meaning an internal combustion engine acts as a generator for the battery. In this case a 2.0 turbo powering a 49.05 kWh LFP battery pack. U8 also uses CTC (Cell-to-Chassis) technology, which means the battery is integrated into the chassis. The vehicle's travel distance according to Chinese CLTC standards is 180 km, and with a full battery and a filled 75-liter fuel tank is 1,000 km.

The internal combustion engine is combined with 4 electric motors, with each motor having a capacity of 299.1 horsepower, giving a total capacity of 1,197 horsepower and 1,280 Nm of torque. Maximum speed 200 km/h with 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 3.6 seconds.

The U8 supports 110 kW DC fast charging, charging 30-80% in 18 minutes. In the opposite direction, the car can power electronic devices for 28 hours.

The electric SUV is also equipped with 3 lidars, 13 cameras, 12 ultrasonic radars and 5 millimeter wave radars. Advanced driving assistance technology ADAS level 2.

The interior is covered in Nappa leather and impresses with 6 screens: 23.6-inch digital clock, 12.8-inch center control screen, 23.6-inch infotainment screen in front of the passenger seat. , and two other screens for the rear seats, along with an LCD control screen in the armrest. There is also an information display system on the 50-inch windshield and a 22-speaker Dynaudio system.

But one of the most outstanding features of the U8 is that in addition to off-road capabilities, the vehicle can also wade in very deep water. The Premium version can cross 1,000 mm of water, while the Off-road Master version can go up to 1,400 mm thanks to a snorkel.

When amphibious mode is activated, the vehicle will use sensors to determine the surrounding environment, such as water depth and wheel slippage. The emergency flotation mode will automatically activate when the vehicle approaches a water level that exceeds the limit.

When the emergency flotation mode is activated, the internal combustion engine immediately stops working, the Disus-P hydraulic body control system will raise the suspension system to the maximum level, the windows automatically close, and the vehicle is controlled. The air conditioner switches to let in fresh air, and the sunroof opens to create an emergency exit. The center screen will display the water level, indicating how deep the car is submerged.

U8 can float for 30 minutes and move forward at a speed of 3 km/h. The car can even perform spins while floating.

However, BYD emphasized that the U8's above capabilities are only for emergencies, such as floods, and should not be used to drive across lakes or rivers just for fun. And after the emergency flotation mode is activated, the car needs to be taken to service stations for inspection.

Both versions have the same selling price of 150,000 USD, making the U8 the most expensive electric car in China. And both versions have a spare tire hanging on the rear.

During the launch press conference, YangWang announced that he wanted to focus on the direct sales model. The company currently has 60 stores under construction in 40 cities and plans to open 90 stores by the end of the year. This strategy is similar to what BYD applied to another sub-brand, Fang Cheng Bao, when it took back stores and showrooms of high-end brands such as Mercedes, Aston Martin or Maserati. Meanwhile, BYD still uses the traditional dealer system for vehicles with the BYD logo.