Yesterday, BYD officially launched sales of the Datang or “Great Tang.” The premium SUV went on sale with over 150,000 pre-orders on the books over the past month, after having been previewed months earlier. BYD has been supply constrained with its latest models featuring the second-generation Blade Battery. Based on what BYD presented at the launch, this model will likely be in short supply for some time. The Datang is a full-sized, 7-passenger SUV, measuring 5,263 mm long, 1,999 mm wide and 1,790 mm high on a 3,130 mm wheelbase. BYD claims it can easily hold ten 20” suitcases with all seats occupied, with even more cargo space available if the seats are folded down. In addition, there are 47 storage spaces added throughout the cabin for smaller items. BYD Datang. Image Credit: BYD The EV has a 252l waterproof “frunk” with a drain, in case you want to give your pet capybara a bath (as shown by BYD). BYD claims this is the world’s largest capacity front trunk. It could also be used as a massive cooler for tailgating. At the rear, there is 1838l of cargo space. The vehicle is equipped with electric opening and sealing doors that support gesture-based control, in addition to voice and manual control. Special attention was given to outperform China’s new door handle regulations that ensure safe operation in case power is interrupted. Electric running boards make it easier to get into the SUV, while a welcome light makes it easier to see where you are stepping. BYD Datang. Image Credit: BYD A 2.53-square-meter “Sky Mirror” sunroof features a 9 mm thick 7-layer sandwich structure, with a retractable sunshade between two laminated glass layers. This saves space while providing UV protection, reducing cabin heat and dropping interior noise by 3.9db. BYD Datang. Photo by Larry Evans Up front, the driver gets a 17.3” center touchscreen, a 12.3” instrument display and a full color 50” AR-HUD. Front passengers also get a 12.3” entertainment screen. Rear passengers have a 17.3” center screen that folds down from the roof, and powered attachment points allow for additional devices to be used. On the audio side, the Datang is equipped with 27 Devialet speakers, including speakers in the headrests, for 7.1.4 surround sound and 2200W of peak power. A 3nm intelligent cockpit chip powers the onboard technology, including “Didi Shrimp” AI assistant. BYD Datang. Image credit BYD The Datang offers an electrically opening refrigerator in the center console. The second row also has tray tables, and zero-gravity reclining seats that are heated and ventilated with 10 points of massage. The top trim upgrades that to “airline-style” seats with 146° of backrest recline and 70° adjustable electric leg rests. Third row seats are also heated. In addition, the seats have “nap mode” and can be folded down to make a bed with a single touch. BYD Datang. Screengrab BYD launch conference video Beyond the included features, BYD emphasized the customization potential within the 6.34 square meters of useable floor space. BYD collaborated with high-end furnishing brand Oppein to develop several custom interiors intended for business executives, tech enthusiasts and family-friendly camping. Datang. Image Credit BYD On the mechanical side, the Datang features DiSus-A dual-chambered air suspension, which allows the ride height to change by 100 mm (~4”). In addition, DiSus-C actively manages damping stiffness. The system uses sensors to scan the road ahead, anticipate road conditions and mitigate bumps. It also manages tire blowouts at highway speeds. Combined with 3-wheel steering and acceleration to 100 km/h in as little as 3.9s, the Datang is poised to perform far better than expected for a vehicle this size. However, while that kind of performance can be exciting for the driver, it isn’t always as fun for passengers. The Datang offers an anti-motion-sickness function focused across 5 dimensions, including the intelligent chassis, drive system, and air conditioning system, along with soothing fragrance and entertainment screen display settings. Datang. Image Credit: BYD The new car is equipped with the God’s Eye 5.0 generation software on God’s Eye B hardware. A LiDAR sensor enables advanced ADAS system to drive the car in tight parking spaces, as well as on urban roads and highways. BYD now guarantees the self-driving capability in both parking and city driving, taking full responsibility in case of an accident. If an accident were to occur, the Datang combines 1500 MPa UHSS throughout most of the body and over 2000 MPa in critical places like the doors. In a world where 5-Star crash ratings have become table stakes, BYD developed supplemental safety tests, including third row side impact test and a roof crush test using over 14 tons of shipping containers. The Datang features a long list of acronyms for active and passive safety features that are too extensive to go into detail here, but combine to provide multiple layers of protection. Looking at the spec sheets, the Datang starts at 239,900 RMB ($35,502 USD) for the entry-level 800 km RWD model with a 300 kW motor, 269,900 RMB ($39,941 USD) for the 950 km RWD Flagship model with a 370 kW rear motor. The 289,900 RMB ($42,908) AWD Flagship 850 km model adds a 215 kW front motor, 4 piston fixed calipers and 21” wheels. A 309,900 RMB Grand Edition offers special mirror-finished wheels with logos that stay upright as the wheels turn, two toned paint, real wood trim and even more luxurious second row seats. All trims include BYD’s LiDAR-based God’s Eye B standard, with a full liability guarantee for Level 4 parking and city navigation. Across the trim levels, I expect most buyers to choose the 950 km RWD Flagship model. However every trim level represents an impressive value for a premium vehicle. Datang. Image credit: BYD While CLTC range ratings are often criticized for being unrealistic, they may be closer to reality on this model. According to “real world tests,” the 950 km version “achieved a 99.61% range in urban conditions and a 97% range under 85% expressway conditions.” In addition, that range with the second-generation Blade Battery can be replenished as quickly as an ICE vehicle can refuel using BYD’s flash charging. BYD seems confident that frequent flash charging will not hurt the vehicle, offering a lifetime warranty on the 3 core electronic components: blade battery, motors and electronic control system, in addition to the 6 yr/150,000 km warranty for the rest of the car. Image Credit: BYD BYD has 6,682 BYD Flash Charging stations now online in 321 cities and plans to install 20,000 stations across China by the end of the year. Each station is capable of charging multiple vehicles at the same time. Additional flash charging will be installed at Sinopec gas stations and KFC stores. In addition, there are millions of other public charging stations across China and the ability to charge at home. That makes the latest generation of BYD cars more convenient and significantly less expensive to refuel in China compared to gasoline or diesel. Datang Image credit: BYD Overall, BYD claims the Datang has 29 “world’s firsts.” While some of those might be more impressive than others, it does seem to be a significant improvement. You get the feeling that they must be running out of ideas for features. Performance, technology and equipment beyond even super-premium SUVs from Rolls Royce and Maybach. With a different badge, it could easily command multiple times the price. It is also easily a better value than any premium full size ICE SUV. The progress is even more noticeable when comparing with familiar competitors and even BYD’s own vehicles introduced last year. But that is for another article.