The SUV U8 was one of the highlights of YangWang, a sub-brand of BYD, at the last Geneva Motor Show. The electric model caught the public’s attention for being a new model that will soon hit the European market and for its ability to float for 30 minutes, navigate at 3 km/h, or even make 360-degree turns.
This Chinese off-road vehicle, which is currently the most expensive production model of YangWang, aims to compete in Europe with the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the Land Rover Defender, and the Ford Bronco. It is equipped with four motors, one per wheel, and relies on a 2.0-liter gasoline engine that serves as a generator to recharge the 48 kWh battery.
The result is a maximum power of 1196 hp and 1280 Nm of maximum torque, enough to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds.
The Chinese brand has announced that the U8 has a wading capacity of 100 cm, which can reach 140 cm in the most adventurous version, benefiting from a “snorkel”. However, when the limits are exceeded in extreme adventures, the “floating mode” system is automatically activated, allowing the 3,985 kg SUV to float.
