Following its initial announcement in late 2022, BYD has officially launched YangWang – its new luxury EV brand. YangWang was introduced at a launch event held at BYD’s headquarters in Shenzhen, a city in China’s Guangdong Province, where it revealed the brand’s first two vehicles – the U8 SUV and U9 supercar.
Both models, and all future YangWang vehicles, will utilize a new technology platform called e4. In addition to serving EVs, BYD confirmed that e4 would also be suitable for the development of new hybrid vehicles. The platform’s quad motor independent drive technology gives users precise control over the vehicle’s four-wheel dynamics, based on BYD’s independent vector control system. In the U8, for example, this feature enables a crabwalk mode.
The OEM has also cited improvements to perception, decision making, and execution as further benefits of e4 platform in addition to its safety features. Here – in the event of a single-tire blow, it can adjust the torque of the remaining three wheels at a rate of 1,000 times per second to bring the vehicle to a stable, controlled, stop. In delivering a maximum motor speed of 20,500 rpm, vehicles based on e4 will benefit from a maximum power output exceeding 1,100 hp (820 kW). Likewise, the peak power of a single motor in e4’s electric drive assembly is estimated to range from 295 hp (220 kW) to 321 hp (240 kW).
With the YangWang U8, BYD offers a dedicated off-road SUV capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under 4 seconds. The vehicle also provides several off-road driving modes – including ice and snow, fixed circle, desert slope, U-turn on the spot, and a floating water mode. Additional features include its intelligent extrication and emergency avoidance capabilities in complex road conditions, as well as a suite of integrated technologies. The U9 supercar prioritizes performance, reaching 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 3 seconds and offering a total output of 1,228 hp (903 kW). Much like the U8, safety remains a priority through the EV’s design, balanced with the necessary qualities for comfortable city and track driving.
While details around the release and pricing structure for both models have not yet been confirmed, BYD expects both to be offered at around a RMB 1 million ($148,763 / €137,609) price point. In the future, the OEM expects to offer new YangWang models at a price range between 800,000 yuan and 1.5 million yuan ($110,280 to $206,800 / €110,075 to €206,931). From Q1 2023, YangWang will begin developing experience centers in China – with planned locations including Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and more cities across the region.
