Test Drive Report Yangwang U8: BYD's True Dream Factory

Yangwang sounds strangely affordable to European ears, but at BYD it represents the pinnacle of dreams—never has the brand been closer to its slogan "build your dreams," even if this dream can be traumatic for some.

Catapult Start: 3.6 tons reaching 100 km/h with passengers in 3.6 seconds

For instance, when you step on the pedal and nearly 3.5 tons are catapulted to 100 km/h within 3.6 seconds. Coming to a stop just 35 meters further. This is much more fun at the steering wheel than on the other seats. We enter an interior lined with plenty of orange-heavy leather and suede imitation, plus noble Sapele wood. Every seat offers the full comfort program: seat heating, ventilation, and massage in multiple settings. Visually quite unique, it should generally appeal more to markets in the Arab world, the USA, and Russia than in other regions.

More discreet interior colors are also available. The D-pillar is designed as an "Energy Tower" in this case, flashing to indicate charging and showing the battery's charge level depending on the filling status of the bars.

It has enough space, clearly with 5139 mm in length, 2050 mm in width, 1930 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 3050 mm. The approach angles are decent with 36.5 degrees at the front and 35.4 degrees at the rear, and the 25.5-degree ramp angles aid off-road.

If you need power, the combustion engine always runs

During the catapult start, the rather insignificant four-cylinder range extender, which generates electricity for the four 220 kW power units that produce "torque vectoring" on the quick circuit and relatively good handling for the colossus, is somewhat annoying. The air suspension with decent damping helps, along with the low-lying, waterproof packaged Blade battery, to maintain traction; with all that Yangwang offers here. After all, 880 kW is 1196 HP in old currency, plus 1280 Nm of torque. We quickly calculate: If the 49er battery offers around 180 km range according to the lenient CLTC standard and 820 km is still missing, the combustion engine consumes 9.15 l/100 km—not economical...

Wind noise becomes apparent at 130 km/h and gets louder quickly, but such speeds are rarely achieved in China. Overall, it is noticeable that the U8 in all its fullness and detail leaves a small gap in perfection compared to European premium and luxury SUVs, but the price for what is offered is super hot: Yangwang wants a million Yuan for it, which is around 130,000 euros at the current exchange rate—enough for a base Taycan...

A new trend? The tire-killing turn on the spot called "Tank-Turn"

And since turning can get a bit tight at 5.3 meters in length, the Yangwang can also do a "Tank-Turn," turning on the spot like a tank, which Mercedes-Benz also demonstrated with the new EQG in Las Vegas: you brake, select the function, set the angle, and start the program. Foot off the brake and the giant turns on the spot: two wheels turn forwards, two backwards—this costs tires for a good few thousand kilometers but never mind. And: If you find yourself in a hostile ambush, you could turn on the spot, provided the road is at least 5.3 meters wide. Or: you can measure a parallel parking gap with the front and then crab-walk the rear sideways with squealing tires behind it...

Swimming at up to 3 km/h for 30 minutes

Similarly, there's the emergency water landing: The U8 can actually swim for up to 30 minutes and be controlled delicately with the "paws," i.e., the steered front wheels, like a dog. Then you could rescue people in the next gentle flood. But in a raging torrent when a little stream swells into a wild Yangtse again, the part-time yacht won't be much help. But you could ... after that, the U8 needs service and water-tightness checks.

…meanwhile, rear passengers can virtually apply makeup; the screens offer the appropriate program plus games, TV, and more. Meanwhile, the driver can choose from 15 driving programs, left on-road, right off-road. The Chinese playfulness is given free rein here. And yes, in its entirety, the Yangwang U8 is indeed in many ways a new "dimension" when it comes to the sheer number of possibilities of what one could do with a hyper-SUV, if one just wanted to.