BYD launches premium EV brand YangWang with U9 hypercar and U8 SUV

Chinese auto giant BYD last week launched YangWang, a new premium EV brand targeting top European automakers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

BYD also revealed the first two YangWang products, the U9 hypercar and the U8 rugged SUV, at a launch event on January 5.

Both vehicles are based on BYD's Yisifang platform and feature a four-wheel drive system. The motors are individually controlled, allowing the U8 to make tank turns as well as move sideways without moving forward, unlike the Hummer EV's crab walk.

This lateral movement capability was demonstrated at the launch event.

In the U8, four motors generate a peak of 1,100 hp, or enough power to propel a 17.4-foot-long SUV from 0-62 mph in about 3 seconds.

The SUV's electrical system has an Ingress Protection Rating of IP68. This means that the system can withstand freshwater up to 59 inches deep for up to 30 minutes.

BYD is using this capability to design the U8 to float and travel on water, which the company has demonstrated in prototypes.

While few details about the U9 have been revealed, we do know that the hypercar will generate 1,288 hp from four motors, which BYD says will be enough power to accelerate from 0-62 mph in about two seconds.

Availability and pricing of YangWang's product has not been announced, but a prototype of the U8 has been spotted in China and appears to be in a late stage of development.