The Chinese car firm BYD will bring the Yangwang u8 to the Geneva Motor Show after its success in China. Will it reach the European market? We tell you here.
A matter of a few months ago, the Chinese electric car firm, BYD, launched the U8 model through its luxury division, Yangwang, whose first deliveries were already made at the end of 2023 in the Chinese market. It is a very robust plug-in hybrid SUV, whose power reaches more than 1,000 HP.
Now, the Chinese firm has just confirmed that the luxury SUV will be present at the next Geneva Motor Show event, which will take place between February 26 and March 3. With this, what the brand intends is to present itself as a luxury brand, as well as try to strengthen the model in the European public.
Characteristics of the Yangwang U8
Something that can be seen with the naked eye about the Yangwang U8 are its dimensions. Not only is it robust, but it also measures 5.32 meters long by 2.05 meters wide, and is a total of 1.93 meters high.
But its weight is not short either, since it weighs around 3,000 kg, that is, 3 tons. The truth is that this is a piece of information that could cause some problems when it comes to its entry into the European market, given the restrictions.
Likewise, it has a wheelbase of 3,050 centimeters, which translates into ample space for the batteries, but also for the occupants, as well as for its trunk. For its part, it has a set of 20-inch wheels, and a range of 1,000 km.
Independent propulsion system with four motors
One of the most relevant characteristics of the new BYD model is that it is prepared to go off the asphalt, and this is possible thanks to its system of four independent motors on each wheel, which allow the vehicle to be turned without having to rely on the steering wheel. This system is called e4Platform, the first mass-produced platform in the world that is capable of hosting an independent four-motor propulsion system.
With these features, the U8 delivers a total of 1,200 HP of power, and is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds. If we mention its battery, as expected, it comes powered by the famous BYD Blade battery, which has a capacity of 49 kWh, offering a range, as we mentioned, of 1,000 km.
In fact, it has a maximum charging power of 110 kW, which can recover from 30 to 80% of the total energy in just 18 minutes. As for its interior, it features a dashboard that includes a 12.8-inch Galaxy Curved OLED screen, as well as two longitudinal screens for the driver and co-pilot, and Nappa-colored leather upholstery. A luxury design.
Starting price of the Yangwang U8
Another aspect that could distance it from the European market is that the firm is mainly committed to the richest clients in each country, taking into account that it has become known as a luxury subdivision within electric vehicles, as well as within the BYD firm itself.
Presumably, the new model will have a starting price of almost 1 million yuan, which would correspond to 130,700 euros. It is true that it is a really high price that not every driver can afford. But it is also true that it is a lot of car. The Chinese car firm BYD will bring the Yangwang u8 to the Geneva Motor Show after its success in China. Will it reach the European market? It is something that we do not know for now, so we can only wait for new information.