BYD’s premium brand Yangwang (literally translates to “looking up”) has a luxury SUV designed for serious off-road adventures. This top-tier offroader has several tricks up its sleeves; but the most impressive two would be doing tank turn (basically, turn 0-360° on the spot), and believe it or not, swimming across a body of water.
The Yangwang U8, as it is called, is not a fully electric vehicle as one might have expected coming from a Chinese automaker. The Yangwang U8 is an extended-range electric vehicle aka a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
Driving it are electric motors while the gas guzzler only serves as a generator to boost the range. That said, it is outfitted with a 49.05 kWh BYD LFP Blade Battery system that offers a very modest electric range of 180 km (112 miles).
This range is bolstered by a range-extender, a 2.0L in-line 4 turbocharged engine, that generates electricity to feed the e⁴ platform’s four independent electric motors. All told, it has an impressive CLTC range of about 1,000 km (621 miles). It has a 75 L (20 gal) fuel tank, btw.
The e⁴ platform’s four independent electric motors each produce 220 kW (295 HP), resulting in a total maximum output of 880 kW (1,180 HP) and a max torque of 1,280 Nm (944 lb-ft!). It is a very powerful automobile. So powerful that it can rocket this 3,460 kg (7,628 lbs) behemoth from 0-100 kph (62 mph) in just 3.6 seconds.
The e⁴ platform, which is the first in mass-produced four-motor independent drive technology, allows each wheel to be independently powered and controlled. This means the entire drive system is like a huge electronic limited-slip differential system.
It allows for precise control over all four wheels for differential steering and enables it to perform the aforementioned Tank Turn. Obviously, you are not going to do that (Tank Turn) every day because it will most definitely chew up the rubbers.
The independent motors also allow the vehicle to transfer power to wheels with traction when it gets into a sticky situation or allow for grip on surfaces with more traction on icy grounds.
In addition to the innovative e⁴ platform, the Yangwang U8 further boasts the DiSus-P Intelligent Hydraulic Body Control System which uses hydraulic to allow the ride height to be adjusted.
Moreover, the system also allows each corner’s height to be adjusted independently thus allowing it to remain level in scenarios like climbing gradient, swimming, and more.
The DiSus Intelligent Body Control System improves vehicle agility and stability across different driving situations, reducing rollover risks and enhancing occupant protection during maneuvers and under tough road conditions.
If you read Chinese, you may learn more about this amazing automobile HERE [CH]. The Yangwang U8 is a luxury SUV that commands a hefty starting price of 1.098 million yuan (around US$152,000).
Images: Yangwang [CH].
