The tank-turning, amphibious luxury SUV spied testing in Australia has been revealed with a bigger body to be offered in China.
An even bigger version of the 880kW luxury plug-in hybrid SUV from BYD – the Yangwang U8 – has been revealed ahead of the 2025 Shanghai motor show.
The longer version – officially named Yangwang U8L – adds a reported 281mm to stretch to a 5600mm long, making it bigger than its full-size Range Rover, Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol rivals, and even the 5.3-metre Zeekr 9X SUV.
While the official length has not been revealed nor whether the U8L sits on a stretched wheelbase (distance between the front and rear axles) version of the e4 platform or simply has a longer body.
The U8L ditches the rear-mounted external spare wheel, but BYD hasn’t announced an increase over the standard U8’s 1031L boot expandable to 2050L with the rear seats folded down.
MORE: BYD Yangwang U8 luxury SUV spied testing in Australia
According to Car News China, the U8L may adopt a three-row six-seat cabin configuration where the regular U8 offers five – with the space used as part of the luxury tilt of the Yangwang brand.
Yangwang is the premium arm of Chinese brand BYD akin to the relationship between Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus, with the U8 introduced in China in late 2023 priced at around $AU220,000.
The U8 was the first Yangwang-branded vehicle, followed by the U9 battery-electric supercar in 2024 and the U7 large sedan, sold in electric and hybrid guises, in 2025.
While Yangwang has not officially been confirmed for Australia, the U8 has been spied testing here and is produced in right-hand drive for Thailand and United Kingdom (UK) markets.
MORE: BYD sub-brand Denza on track for Australia, Yangwang under consideration
BYD has publicly displayed the U8 in showrooms in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on multiple occasions with an eye to introducing it locally – but with a decision by BYD importer EVDirect yet to be made.
The U8L appears to keep the regular U8’s ‘tank turn’ capability made popular on social media, as well as claims the U8 is amphibious given its IP68-grade waterproofing of its electric motors.
No powertrain changes between the U8 and the longer U8L have been announced, with the 2.0-litre turbocharged internal combustion engine and four electric motors producing 880kW/1280Nm
Claimed driving range for the regular U8 is 1000km (CLTC or China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) with 180km under electric power alone.
MORE: BYD Yangwang U9 electric supercar jumps over potholes and spikes
The U8 is an EREV (Energy Range Extending Vehicle) meaning the internal combustion engine acts as a generator – never driving the wheels, which are instead driven by the electric motors.
It also features BYD’s ‘God’s Eye’ advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) with artificial intelligence integration to support hands-free semi-autonomous driving.
In February 2025, the system was added to the car maker’s vehicles sold in China, including the BYD Dolphin, Seal, Sealion 6 and Sealion 7 – with the tech expected to be offered in Australia.
The BYD Atto 3 and BYD Shark 6 dual-cab ute sold here are yet to be given the tech, given they are not sold in China.
Further details on the Yangwang U8L are expected to be revealed at the 2025 Shanghai motor show.
The post BYD Yangwang U8L SUV revealed to sit above U8 appeared first on Drive.