A high-tech luxury SUV from China offers 1,180 hp, wades through water, and features a cabin packed with screens and comfort
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- BYD’s YangWang U8L is 14.6 inches (372 mm) longer than the standard model.
- All versions come standard with the DiPilot 600 system and three LiDAR sensors.
- The U8L retains the same water-fording capabilities of the short-wheelbase version.
The big, long and luxurious YangWang U8L from BYD has officially hit the market in China, and by local standards, the range-extender SUV is quite expensive. However, compared to what we’re used to paying in the United States and other Western markets for premium SUVs, it still seems like quite a bargain.
First shown a few months ago, the U8L is largely the same as the standard U8 introduced a few years back, with one key difference: it’s significantly longer.
Read: China Asked For A Longer YangWang And BYD Delivered
The body has been stretched by 14.6 inches (372 mm) and the wheelbase extended by 7.8 inches (200 mm). Pricing starts at 1,300,000 yuan, or around $181,000 at current exchange rates. Interested buyers can place a reservation with a 20,000 yuan deposit, roughly $2,790.
A Tech-Heavy Flagship
Positioned as the flagship luxury model in the YangWang line-up, the U8L serves as an alternative to the likes of the Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan for Chinese buyers who prefer to buy domestic. While it may struggle to compete from a sheer quality or prestige perspective, it has tech that no European rival can come close to matching.
For example, the U8L is equipped with the company’s DiPilot 600 autonomous driving functions that includes three LiDAR sensors and offers a Navigate On Autopilot function on highways and urban roads.
It also comes standard with carbon ceramic brakes, YangWang’s trick Disus-P hydraulic suspension system, and includes the same wade mode as the standard version. That means it can float and drive through water.
Comfort and Screens in Every Row
Then there’s the cabin. The U8L is sold exclusively as a 2+2+2, with a focus on passenger comfort and tech. There’s a 23.6-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver, a 12.8-inch central infotainment screen, and another 23.6-inch display for the front passenger. Both first- and second-row seats come with heating, ventilation, and massage functions, along with heated armrests for added comfort.
Power in Spades
The powertrain is identical to the short and stumpy YangWang U8. That means there’s a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, four electric motors, and a 49.05 kWh battery pack. This powertrain delivers an almighty 1,180 hp (880 kW) and 944 lb-ft (1,280 Nm) of torque. To put that into perspective, it’s more than the original Bugatti Veyron (2005-2015), which made 987 hp from an 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16. Impressive stuff indeed.
Will many Chinese be willing to fork out for an extended YangWang? That remains to be seen, but as reported by CarNewsChina, YangWang’s sales have dropped roughly 500 percent compared to the first half of last year, a figure that suggests the brand may face an uphill climb in maintaining momentum.