BYD’s luxury car brand, FangChengBao, recently made headlines with an SUV that can launch an imaging drone. The FangChengBao Bao 8 [CH] (Bao or 豹 means leopard, by the way) is a luxury off-road hybrid SUV available in a standard or Drone Edition. In collaboration with DJI, the Bao 8 debuts a system called the Lingyuan platform, which allows a drone to be integrated with select BYD EVs.
This system includes a roof-mounted docking station for automated drone takeoff and landing, flight tracking that lets the drone follow the car at speeds of up to 54 km/h (34 mph), obstacle avoidance, rapid charging for the drone, and an AI-powered video editing function to create cinematic footage. So yeah, this drone is primarily for leisure—not for scouting traffic jams or searching for lost hikers (though, technically, you could).
The Bao 8 isn’t the only BYD EV with a drone edition. The Yangwang U8—aka the SUV that swims—has one, and so does the BYD Tang L. But this isn’t just any off-the-shelf DJI drone; it’s a DJI Air 3S, a customized vehicle-mounted drone, bundled with a DJI Air 3S dual-mode controller, meaning you can use the drone even without the car. The smart drone dock is also outfitted with a 4K ultra-wide rooftop camera, letting you capture both aerial and ground footage.
Now, for the truly futuristic part: the drone can take off and land while the vehicle is moving. By default, it follows behind and above the car, but users can reposition it as needed—even making it orbit the SUV for dramatic shots. It is worth noting that the car has to stay under 25 km/h (16 mph) for landing and taking off.
Under the hood, the FangChengBao Bao 8 packs a 2.0L turbocharged engine paired with dual electric motors, delivering a combined 550 kW (738 HP)—enough to launch it from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds. It can roll on electric power alone for 125 km (78 miles), and in total, offers a 1,200 km, or 756 miles range (CLTC conditions).
Other high-tech goodies include the DiLink 150 smart cockpit and Huawei Qiankun Smart Drive System ADS 3.0—the first car to feature it. This system enables self-driving, self-parking, and obstacle avoidance, bringing it one step closer to being a real-life sci-fi vehicle, or it already is?
The FangChengBao Bao 8 EV Drone Edition was launched in China on March 2, 2025, with a price range of 395,580-423,800 yuan [CH] (about US$55,000-59,000).
Images: BYD/FangChengBao [CH].
