Its face has a little bit of Mitsubishi about it, and the rear says ‘Defender’, but this massive electric SUV from China isn’t that much like either.
It’s the BYD YangWang U8, and its one of the first cars to come from the luxury-sub brand of BYD which launched in China at the start of this year.
There’s no word on this brand for Australia just yet – BYD itself is still building itself up here – but some of the specifications and capabilities claimed for YangWang’s models are impressive.
For a start, the brand claims the U8’s four electric motors total 820kW and 1280Nm, and will launch the SUV to 100km/h in just three seconds.
According to reports from CarNewsChina, the brand will sell the U8 at a starting price around half that of the G-Class in China, which would be like BYD offering the large and luxe electric SUV in Australia for less than $150,000.
It’s also claimed to be able to ‘float’ across rivers in a drive mode that allows it to wade deeper water than other SUVs, while its wheels are said to be capable of ‘tank turning’ by moving in opposite directions and decreasing the SUV’s turning circle.
While BYD is seemingly testing it as a proper off-roader, its looks and luxe interior say less ‘LandCruiser’ and more ‘G-Class’.
Still, it’s much larger than both, reportedly 5319mm long, 2050mm wide, and 1930mm tall with a wheelbase of 3050mm.
It’s set to debut at the Shanghai Auto Show in three weeks, on April 18.
Keyword: Luxury Toyota LandCruiser or budget Mercedes-Benz G-Class rival? The 2024 BYD YangWang U8 is an off-roading full-size luxury SUV from China