MOTORING REVIEW: BYD reveal two new high performance cars

CHINESE automaker BYD has revealed two cars from Yangwang, the company’s luxury and performance brand. Different from anything currently on the market here, they are the huge U8, an all-terrain hybrid SUV that the company claims ‘can float on water’, and a pure electric high-performance, 2-seater supercar likely to stir the emotions of sports car fans everywhere. They were shown to Irish dealers and motoring journalists at Motor Distributors Limited in Dublin, who distribute BYD in Ireland, following a European debut at the recent Goodwood Speed Festival. they vary so much in looks that it was difficult to believe they are both built on the same e4 platform. Ireland is the first EU country to see the cars.

BYD describe them as the ‘pinnacle of luxury and performance that pushes the boundaries of automotive innovation’. The U8 is a luxuriously appointed 5-door 4x4 with all-terrain capability. Weighing 3.5-tonnes, the SUV is powered by a 49.05kWh BYD Blade battery powering four permanent electric motors delivering 295hp to each wheel, with a 2.0, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, and providing a total range of up to 1,000km. In performance terms, a truly massive 1,200hp can propel the car from 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds, equal to that of a F1 supercar. Ciaran Allen, sales director of MDL, believes it would be ideal for use by the emergency services. 

The U8 embodies cutting-edge technology developed in BYD’s two decades of Research & Development, many of which are safety related. In the event of a sudden tyre blowout, a Vehicle Stabilisation System helps the driver to maintain a safe course. Another is an emergency ‘flotation’ function that enables the U8 to ‘float’ on water for up to 30 minutes and travel forward at a 3km/h speed, with an additional capacity to ‘wade’ through floods with a snorkel exhaust fitted. Other safety-related features include an active suspension system that can increase ground clearance by 15cms. A differential steering system enables it to perform 180deg ‘tank-turns’.

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The U9 supercar combines space age looks with an electrifying performance. Just looking at this special two-seater stirs the senses. The gull wing doors, huge rear spoiler. Not to mention the stunning interior. The individual wheel drive system redistributes torque to all wheels in the event of traction loss while an Intelligent Hydraulic Body Control System dubbed DiSus-X allows adjustment of ground clearance. 

The U9 is fitted with an 80kWh BYD Blade battery, and its four electric motors deliver a total 1,300hp. Peak torque is 1,680Nm. This car has an electric range of 450kms, a 0-100km/h sprint of 2.36 secs and a top speed of 310km/h, making it basically an F1 car in road trim. The battery can be charged with a 500kW DC fast charger from 30pc - 80pc in just 10 minutes. To increase charging speed, it can accommodate dual charging using two charging guns. 

Originally a battery manufacturing company, BYD is now among the top 10 automakers in the world. It employs 700,000 people in China, and 100,000 in their R&D department. There are now six dealerships in this country, with more on the way shortly. 

No date has yet been set for the cars to arrive in Ireland, nor prices agreed. But at the static viewing, Ciaran Allen said we would be surprised on the matter of cost. “Think of a number, then cut it in half.”