Off-road SUV Yangwang U8 seen driving through unbelievably deep water like its a boat
- Yangwang U8 is an SUV unveiled by BYD
- It’s fitted with an electric engine, and a gas-powered range extender
- It can swim, crab-walk and perform 360-degree, tank-style turns
Published on Apr 17, 2024 at 12:15 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Apr 17, 2024 at 7:25 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
BYD did make it clear that its newest SUV, the Yangwang U8, was a very capable off-roader.
But action speaks louder than words, and a video the automaker shared tells you just how good it is.
As we can see from the video, it is especially good at ‘swimming’.
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BYD is on the rise.
After beating Tesla last year, becoming the world’s leading EV maker for the first time, the Chinese automaker unveiled a few interesting models.
In addition to the Yangwang U8 you see here, the company has also launched the Yangwang U9, a supercar that can accelerate faster than the Bugatti Chiron.
For whatever reason – probably just for fun – they’ve also fitted it with a complex suspension system that can make it dance.
The Yangwang U8 is a different animal altogether.
The 1,180-horsepower SUV can wade in waters up to 1400mm in an emergency, and can even float and move in water at speeds of up to 2.9 km/h (1.8 mph).
It also features 360-degree tank turns and it can ‘walk’ like a crab, kind of like the Hummer EV.
Interestingly, the U8 is technically not a fully electric vehicle.
The main engine is a permanent magnet 880 kW motor but the car is also equipped with a gas-powered range extender that’s basically just as large as a normal engine.
It’s a four-cylinder 2.0-liter turbo unit, giving the car a combined power output of 1,180 horsepower, and a range of 1,000 km – or 620 miles.
The U8 is roughly the same size as a BMW X7, with a long wheelbase (3+ meters) and an overall length of 5.3 meters.
One of the downsides of all the tech it carries is the weight of the vehicle.
The U8 tips the scales at a whopping 3,460 kg – or 7,620 lbs, which is a lot, for sure.
Part of the reason it weighs so much – apart from the battery pack and the engine – is that it packs a bunch of lidars, radars, and cameras that it needs for its L2 self-driving system.
In total, the U8 has 38 (again, a lot) individual sensors.
It has 3 lidars, 13 cameras, 12 radars, and 5 wave radars for when it ‘swims’.
This all adds up to a seriously rugged machine, fit for nearly any situation.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
