At first glance, the BYD Yangwang U8 is nothing special. Impressively massive, with a monstrous grille and a silhouette reminiscent of the Range Rover. Another Chinese SUV that visually cites well-known models. Attractive, but a concept that has been tried and tested by the automobile industry in the Middle Kingdom for several years. But there is more to this vehicle than just a rustic clone of the Mercedes G-Class.
The Yangwang U8 not only scrambles through the terrain, but can also swim for 30 minutes like an amphibious vehicle. The body is waterproof, the structure provides buoyancy and the four wheels provide propulsion at speeds of up to three km/h. The power comes from four electric motors, one on each wheel, a total of 800 kW / 1,197 hp. Things move much faster on asphalt, with the four electric machines lifting the 3.5-ton colossus from zero to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. Some sports cars look pretty pale in comparison. At 200 km/h it’s over. If you open the hood, you will see a 2.0 liter combustion engine. So the Yangwang U8 isn’t a pure electric car after all? The answer is “yes”. The combustion engine serves as a range extender and is never involved in propulsion.
The lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP, without nickel and cobalt) has a capacity of 49.05 kilowatt hours. This gives the U8 a purely electric range of around 180 kilometers. Together with the combustion engine and the 75-liter gasoline tank, it will be 1,000 kilometers. A powerful argument. A look at the on-board computer reveals that with a battery charge level of 64 percent, there is still a range of 599 kilometers. Consumption is 6.7 l/100 km or 10.9 kWh/100 km. Due to the fact that a combustion engine is involved, the vehicle would be considered a plug-in hybrid in Germany and would be taxed in the same way. There is a good reason for the subjunctive, because the parent brand BYD does not yet know whether the SUV will be delivered to Europe. The Yangwang brand, which in German means looking up, is too young. At 1.93 meters tall, the U8 lives up to its name.
We sit in the SUV and press the accelerator pedal fully. The 22-inch tires only briefly struggle for traction and relentlessly heave the colossus forward. Thank God the brakes are just as relentless. You feel comfortable in the Yangwang U8. Terracotta-colored leather, comfortable seats that offer little lateral support and sound from 22 speakers from the Dynaudio system. To make the driver feel comfortable, the leather upholstery at the front of the side window is raised higher than the window sill. Comfortable for the elbow during long distance cruising. With a wheelbase of 3.05 meters, you can make yourself comfortable in the upholstery at the back.
The interior with three screens, a touchscreen, a digital instrument display, a monitor for the front passenger plus a large head-up display doesn’t seem too overloaded. There are two rotary wheels on the left and right at the bottom of the impact pot: on the left you select the driving programs Eco Normal Sport and on the right the off-road modes such as sand, mud, snow. At the push of a button, the chassis raises the body by a further 15 centimeters. The four electric motors can implement different differential locks (rear axle, front axle, transfer case). This means that the Yangwang U8 should also be prepared for tough off-road tests.
The China climber has even more tricks up his sleeve. Like the Mercedes EQG, the U8 can turn on the spot and perform a so-called tank turn. In a test, the 5.32 meter long colossus (including the spare wheel) nestled into a six meter long parking space within 24.9 seconds. Parking with the rear wheels rotating in opposite directions is a show. Dating app fans should still be careful. Anyone who pulls off the stunt, which the electric Mercedes G-Class is also capable of, too often in order to influence their potential partner will soon be able to buy new rear tires, as the tread will quickly wear out. If desired, the large SUV can also park autonomously.
The Yangwang U8 is the first vehicle from the Chinese car manufacturer BYD that is based on the new E4 platform, which gives its name to the four electric motors. As an engine brake, they develop a counterforce of one G, so that at a speed of 50 km/h the U8 should stop in less than 30 meters, even if the analog brakes fail. If this happens, the maximum speed is limited to 60 km/h. Steering without a steering column is also possible. These redundant systems are clearly aimed at autonomous driving. The Yangwang U8 is equipped with 38 sensors: three LIDARs, five millimeter wave radars, 14 ultrasonic radars (including two water detection sensors) and 16 cameras. “We developed all the systems ourselves,” beams a Chinese engineer proudly.
Not long ago, Asians still needed the help of Western experts. This now seems to be coming to an end and the principle “from China for the whole world” desired by the Beijing government is becoming more and more a reality. However, cars like the Yangwang U8 are no longer special offers. The premium edition costs around 140,000 euros. Since BYD is building a factory in Hungary, the route to Europe is even shorter and the fact that the Chinese have beaten out VW as the main sponsor of the European Football Championship in Germany underlines the seriousness of China’s attack on Europe.
